It remains a possibility that Atletico Madrid will lose today’s league decider against Barcelona and next week’s Champions League final against Real Madrid (vernacular: ‘do a Hearts), but I hope not. The fact that they have pushed the two most celebrated football clubs on the planet to the limit, across two tournaments, is already remarkable. Should they deliver on two fronts, it will be the most stunning achievement in European football in 47 years.
There was a healthy amount of bloodlust for the Uefa Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules to fine the life out of the likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain, before banning them from Uefa competition. This was never the point.
What Uefa have done is bring Europe’s two most freely spending clubs into line. FFP will restrict City and PSG’s expenditure, transfer market activity and squad selection. This is a result.
It’s a pity we’re not at Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup today. *!*!
Enormous thanks to Tommy Gemmell and everyone who participated in the entertainment here yesterday. Tommy thoroughly enjoyed the banter and will be back on the blog below this article early this afternoon to catch up with the questions he didn’t have time for yesterday.
You can buy a signed copy of his new autobiography, which he can add a personalised message to, by ordering below:
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the battered bunnet
12:10 on 17 May, 2014
………………………..
Absolutely sliced sausage and not square ……….. From a former Coatbrig man.
Jobo balde
I liked to play in all conditions, but obviously a well-manicured lawn did help with touch and so on.
But you tend to get used to playing on heavy pitches in this wonderful little country of ours!
Tommy
What do you think of players resigning for a second stint at Celtic ?
HH
BRTH etc., I lived there through my high school years. Kinda wish I still did!
Really hope today show-piece final stands as an advert for all thats good in Scotis……..
.I really don give a s**t to be honest
TOMMY GEMMELL
Re the restaurant Trindade.
Just to warn you! It’s up high in the old part of town, and it’s a very stiff climb!
There is, however, a tram that just makes the one-stop journey from the bottom of the hill right to the restaurant.
Taxis used to be very cheap in Lisbon, but not sure since the advent of the euro!
Oh, and thanks, I got your answer to my question, Tommy. Much appreciated.
spd 1956
Yes, the third game against Racing Club in Montevideo was clearly a mistake when you look back on it.
Big Jock was desperate to see us crowned the best in the world.
We were the best, but we didn’t have the trophy to prove it. The Argentines were a disgrace to the sport.
Atletico…..Hearts?……sorry but very bad analogy for me.
Atletico……Rangers Mibbes?
Never forgive the bassas for 1974 and hope they go the same way as Glasgow Deadclub.
Step back from the euphoria for a moment, however, and a glance at Atletico’s accounts makes for grim reading.
Figures for 2011-12 collated by Jose Maria Gay, a professor at the University of Barcelona and an expert on football finances, show the club are saddled with debts of more than 500 million euros and the cost of paying their players and staff alone is more than 90 percent of annual earnings.
They had managed to stay afloat due to their unexpected winnings on the pitch and by convincing the government to let them fall behind in the payment of more than 100 million euros in taxes, according to Jaume Llopis, a professor at the IESE business school in Barcelona and football finance expert.
The sale of top players like Fernando Torres, David De Gea and Sergio Aguero to the Premier League, a partnership with the Azerbaijan tourist board, reported to be worth 12 million euros over 18 months, and a deal with sporting goods maker Nike have also helped keep the wolves from the door, Llopis said.
“Atletico Madrid’s financial situation is dramatic,” he told Reuters.
“But this year because of the team’s excellent results their economic problems are not talked about.
“Only with their continued presence in the Champions League, locking in the sponsorship deal with Azerbaijan, attracting more sponsors and selling their best players can they improve their finances, although it will be very tough.
“Either they stay in the Champions League and win the odd title which keeps the sponsors happy or they won’t be able to straighten out their precarious economic situation.”
Last one :))) honestTommy Gemmell
13:18 on 17 May, 2014
lionsroar67
Thanks for the kind words. I’m beginning to well up here!
—————–
Make no mistake or be under any illusion sir
YOU and your team mates under Big Jock changed the lifes of many and the way the game is played for the better
Yous will never be forgotten
So thank you again
TG
Yourself and James Conway and Joe Hoey all played for Coltness United and went to Celtic although Joe never got a first team game.
Was there anybody else make it to celtic from Coltness
minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar
12:55 on
17 May, 2014
VP – your Mrs just phoned me get the dishes done!
————————————
HA! Got you there H …Iv’e already done them.
desertbhoy
No, I was rarely in Jim Baxter’s company. My Rangers buddy was Wee Willie Henderson.
Slim Jim used to pal up with Billy McNeill, Paddy Crerand and Mike Jackson. Rangers didn’t like it, but Slim Jim didn’t give a stuff!
Anybody else pissed off we’re not at paradise today ? ;-(
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/the-benefits-of-armageddon/#more-4668
Tommy
Not got a question but just like to say a massive thanks for all the wonderful memories, I remember going out to the back court immediately after the final, shooting for goal and shouting Gemmelllllllll, absolutely magic.
All the best to you and your family
A BUSINESS partner of disgraced former Rangers owner Craig Whyte has been banned from being a director in Britain for five years.
CRAIG WHYTE: Came under fire during ownership of Rangers.
CRAIG WHYTE: Came under fire during ownership of Rangers.
But in a rare move, Aiden Earley has been given sanction to remain for the time being as a director of Sevco 5088 Limited, the firm that bought the liquidated assets of Rangers oldco.
It is understood this is connected to his joint court battle with Mr Whyte as directors of Sevco 5088 over the ownership of Rangers.
Is this an important development.The wording”But in a rare move”caught my attention.
Anyone make anything of this ?.
An Tearmann /. Leftclicktic
Happy to help.
Mr Gemmell –
thank you for that well (long) thought out response.
*does the ‘we are not worthy’ in front of the ole laptop screen…*
Jobo
leftclicktic
I don’t think I’ll be moving to a Continental club any time soon!
No, as I’ve said, there was a tickle from Barcelona and that would have been interesting, but I didn’t want to leave Celtic. I may have been a Motherwell fan as a kid, but once you’ve sampled the Hoops experience it’s difficult to look elsewhere. I would have been delighted to have played my entire career at Celtic.
Thanks for the kind words.
Cheers Tommy….
Hope all goes well for you and there are millions of us who can never thank you and the rest of the Lions enough for what you did for us.
HH
Desertbhoy
I will post at the end of the precious thread – have a look and see what you think.
Cheers,
BJM
maestro
When you say ‘management team’ I assume you are talking about Neil Lennon and not the board of directors. Well, Johan Mjallby has now left the dug-out, so it will be highly interesting to see who fills that role.
As for Europe, Celtic should always aim high irrespective of UEFA rules and so on.
If we can hold onto our best players, we might make a bigger impact.
squire
How would I have reacted against Atletico Madrid when they had three players sent off at Parkhead? It would have been extremely difficult not to get caught up in the atmosphere.
Davie Hay is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, but I know he came close to blowing a gasket that night.
Turkeybhoy… I would venture it’s more than important… Would be great to know the context, though I’m sure it’ll come out; eventually.
eddieinkirkmichael
Big Jock had a major say in being replaced by Billy McNeill. I think he was slowing down after his memorable years and Billy had done very well in his season at Aberdeen. Football will always evolve and changes will be made.
Tommy, are you throwing your hat in the ring to replace Big Johann??
awe_naw
People say you should never return to a former club as it rarely works. I think we saw the best of the likes of Charlie Nicholas and Frank McAvennie first time around in the Hoops.
Mind you, i would have come from Nottingham Forest like a shot!
Mr Gemmell
thanks for reply re: Atletico
I asked the question as I would imagine you would’ve found it hard to tolerate the abuse that Jinky took that night, given the fondness with which you speak of him.
Regards and Hail Hail
Tommy Gemmell,
What was going through your mind when you got that ball,on the edge of the box in Argentina,and went on that mazy run past Dutch defenders before scoring one of the best ever World Cup goals…..so good it is immortalised in a great movie called Trainspotting.
Seriously….bet you’ve been asked that question before?
Have I been on the cider too early?
beatbhoy
I’ll take the tram!
Hail Hail Tommy Gemmell
Tommy
the spirit of arthur lee
13:30 on 17 May, 2014
TG
Yourself and James Conway and Joe Hoey all played for Coltness United and went to Celtic although Joe never got a first team game.
Was there anybody else make it to celtic from Coltness
—–
Tommy
Do you remember Charlie Hoey joined with Big Billy?
lefttickclick
Thank you for your extremely kind words. I was just doing a job!
Tommy I met you once at The Lady of the Lake in Bridge of Allan
Bjm… Tks, will have a gander.
spirit of arthur lee
I’m not aware of anyone else moving to Celtic from Coltness. Jim Conway was an all-action frontman, but moved on fairly swiftly. Joe Hoey never made the first team.
28,000 Dundee United fans at Celtic Park.
Another 15,000 St.Johnstone fans.
I’d like to ask big Tommy if he thinks that, in the wake of this ARMAGEDDON Cup Final, can Scottish football survive without a ‘Rangers’ in the big-time?
;))
Tommy Gemmell,
When you played with the kid King Kenny,as a member of the Quality Street Gang,did you realise even then that he was such a special talent at a very young age?