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.
136 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Sorry that arrested 2 innocent Tims.
D :)
Got a feeling we’ll get a penalty at Ibrox to quieten the noise around their incredible record and Goldson’s latest escape from punishment.
Of course, they’ll get one too.
Good morning all from Govanhill. A fine day in old Glasgow Town.
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH MAY 2023 7:31 PM
Peter Lawwell is yesterday’s man ,move on to a new era….hopefully…
Aye that’ll be why you never stop talking about him.
🤣🤣🤣
Good morning BRRB ☘️
Great time as a Tim let’s hope it continues
fir a long time. With us being Top Dogs and in a position of strength we should cement our dominance by doing what needs doing to make sure we strengthen our built in advantage we already have and make plans now to complete
the Stadium and build up the Main Stand to match the rest of it . That way our opposition will need to start Drilling for Oil or a Sheik to help them. Do it now Celtic do not put it off and Build for the Future.
HAIL HAIL.
Eddie from Creetown on local BBC D&G news this morning talking about going back to Kenya and the work of The Celtic Foundation there. Well Done That Mhan!!!
The time to upgrade the stadium was during Ronnie’s time, when our attendance dropped to 40,000 and we closed the top tier behind the goals.
We have 8-9,000 in the south stand, … including myself ,where would they go whilst the work was carried out?
Maybe us South Standers can go back to Hampden for a season…to watch Queens Park. 😀
The Onlooker
Login
Quick quiz question.
Which unusual event last occurred on September 19th 2019?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMKVRg51ios&t=4769s
Unforgettable experience.
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/1f7834ddf2b5febcb9d1e04ec56c1550
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/1e1c12b9bd5b58385b1407807063d0d3
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/UHYSTjd5z1sbtc6T91ChRQ1398333
Yorkbhoy
Penalty awarded against huns.
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/5f3ccf19758c1ca462b31e3c3bbb08be
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/1da5291455a6a46e4a4df5d4eccaa0e6
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/c8de51e91b32bb6230d36cab782e06dc
Just from watching his team play, and a sketchy picture of his past, I have developed a dislike of David Martindale. This wee clip of his visit to Polmont has brought me up short and made me think twice. I’m still not sure of the guy but I’m beginning to doubt.
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12876834/after-4-years-in-prison-i-want-to-help-others-change-their-lives
THE ONLOOKER
You must agree that the South Stand , is badly in need of being upgraded.
DENIABHOY on 9TH MAY 2023 7:30 AM
Got a feeling we’ll get a penalty at Ibrox to quieten the noise around their incredible record and Goldson’s latest escape from punishment.
Nonsense.Reading one of their”OfficialMedia Partners” this hysteria about penalties is just that.There has not been one instance this season when a penalty should have been awarded against Rangers.All these experts,what do they want?.Just award a penalty,to keep everyone happy?.The Aberdeen one for instance.Clearly Duk was fouling Goldson,why the controversy”.
The madness that is engulfing that club has spread to every nook and cranny.
Just another word on them.This morning they asked their financial expert ???,Daniel Plumley,don’t laugh,about the latest case concerning Elite.His professional view is that it will be probably settled out of court,as the Lawyers fees will be large.Hard to argue with the Plumley fellow.Well you could mention that the costs are awarded against the losers in a court case,but whatever.It seems to have made them happy for a bit.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 9TH MAY 2023 10:55 AM
Yorkbhoy
Penalty awarded against huns.
Last penalty a Scottish ref give against the Huns at Ibrox…
THE ONLOOKER on 9TH MAY 2023 10:33 AM
The time to upgrade the stadium was during Ronnie’s time, when our attendance dropped to 40,000 and we closed the top tier behind the goals.
We have 8-9,000 in the south stand, … including myself ,where would they go whilst the work was carried out?
Maybe us South Standers can go back to Hampden for a season…to watch Queens Park. 😀
The Onlooker
————–
If we didn’t give any away tickets, would they fit in Rangers end SE corner? Rangers used to get 7000 there plus a load of seats are blocked off for security.
Might just squeeze in with a few seats in corpy given away too!
new article posted.