This midweek has gone just about perfectly. Yesterday I asked that we pick a team to win the game, but play Griffiths, Armstrong, Roberts, McGregor, Izaguirre and Gamboa. All played, as did Christie and Henderson. And we recorded a remarkable 0-4 away win.
Meanwhile, in the land of the also-rans, our four nearest ‘challengers’ all dropped points. It’s still early days, but this league’s turning into a procession. Embarrassingly so, for some.
After opening the scoring within three minutes it wasn’t the most fluid of performances from Celtic, but an incredible eight outfield changes will result in a lack of familiarity. What the outfield players lacked, Craig Gordon more than made up for. He made three excellent saves, extending his run of fine performances since returning to the team against Kilmarnock last month.
Will the biggest impact Dorus de Vries has at Celtic be on the form of Craig Gordon? Don’t bet against it.
The Scottish Premiership table is in one of those bizarre states, where the (game-in-hand adjusted) gap between first and second is larger than that between second and second bottom. The transformation which has taken place in a team already five-in-a-row champions is remarkable, eclipsed in recent history only by the turnaround which took place in 2000.
Last night I read a lot of pennies dropping; specifically there was an acceptance that there was a significant financial gap between Celtic and the newly promoted Championship winners. There are a couple of worthwhile observations to make on this issue:
The financial gap which funded this season’s business is a fraction of what it will be next year, when Celtic will have banked circa £50m more than any other Scottish club. That will be around twice the gap they went into the last transfer window with.
Whatever you think about Mark Warburton’s claims that he’s closing the on-field gap, the structural deficit gap is becoming oceanic.
I again read people digging Dave King up about a perceived lack of his promised overinvestment. What’s going on at Ibrox right now IS overinvestment. The signings of Barton, Senderos, Kranjcar, Rossiter, Gilks, Hill, Hodson and Garner were designed to give them the advantage they needed over a team they eliminated from the Scottish Cup last season.
The accounts when published in 2018 will prove this. Or I should say if published. Not every team survives long enough to publish accounts, lest we forget.
For them, winning the league is evidently not going to happen, but if this week’s results teach us anything, it’s that the European qualification places (second and third) are wide open. For a team spending more than their direct rivals combined, that should be an achievable target.
The real problems come when the overinvestment has to stop and budget is cut.
407 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Morning all.
Trusting Thomas
Ayr 1545.
I see one of the tipsters on the Racing Post App tipping a 33/1 shot against Cue Card…. Mmmmmmm
Napped it a couple of weeks ago. Big strong horse. Needed the race but still would have one it with a longer run in. Cannae get beat.
Click work. 4.10 Ascot.
Inaam 5,40 Chelmsford
Happy Punting
HH
15:10 AYR
TOLEDO GOLD
HH.
Squad going to get a real workout this week.
Armstrong should start today. Give rogic a rest. Mchregor for bitton.
And give griff 90 minutes.
Back 4 as was on weds. Start broonie and roberts.
Sinclair completes my starting 11
Native River 2:45 Wetherby,good luck everyone.
Ayr 310 Quito du Tresor
Good luck everyone
MAGIC CIRCLE 415 Leopardstown
Start creating money without delay. get longer together with your family by doing jobs. Earn upto 9k usd aa month……
For more details Go Here: =======>MaxCash9.Com
Morning,VERTIGO 2.05 Ayr for me..please.hh
Hint of Mint in 3.00 Ascot
Mardale 4.55 Ayr … good luck everyone.
Start creating money without delay. get longer together with your family by doing jobs. Earn upto 9k usd aa Month……
For more details Go Here: =======> http://www.MaxCash9.Com
Miss Crick 2.10 Wetherby
Good Luck to all
HH
Estidhkaar in the 440 at hq… off to Ayr if anyone hears any whispers… be lucky HH
Germany Calling
2-25 Ascot
Gl all
Ballyboley—1.55 Ascot.
COSYCORNERBHOY
is still lapping up Spain-while he can!
His nap is
MOSCATO 445 Ascot
Cloonacool in the 3:00 Ascot
For me good luck to all
Hail Hail
ANTONY 3:35 Ascot…
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Sovereign debt 3.05 lep
Rubis 8.10 Chelmsford.
Dartford Warbler 5:05 Wetherby
Ayr 310 Quito du Tresor non runner therefore nap goes on Ayr 530 Sean argaid
Gleann Na Ndochais
5:30. Aye.
Ayr !
Here goes for my selection in the lucky last.
Chelmsford 9.10 Commanche
Unfortunately the favourite but can’t see past it.