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.
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HAMILTONTIM on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 10:43 PM
TTR
Many were there representing supporters clubs with large numbers.
—-
….and some only representing a wee car load :-)
THETIMREAPER – like you, me and Wee BGFC missed out on allocated Aberdeen and Ross Co tickets this week.
This was despite having taken tickets for 19 of the 20 games last year that ‘counted’ (we missed only one – Aberdeen – in fact, the ticket office actually never let us know that one was on offer – we went anyway without tickets, and were lucky enough to get tickets off two nice ladies outside the gates).
The discussion re: fairness was, in part, around the issues mentioned by HT – well-off fans, or individuals in-the-know getting tickets for ‘prime’ games when supporters who follow the club everywhere miss out.
There are essentially – as I see it – three basic approaches in a situation where supply of tickets outstrips demand:
1. Making more tickets available to those who have a record of attending most away games – i.e. an attendance-related points-based system
2. Making more tickets available to those who pay the most money – i.e. a purely finance-based system
3. A random ballot that takes no account of previous support / attendance record or of the ability / willingness to pay an ‘executive’ premium (e.g. as an investor / box holder / big-wig)
There may be different ways in which each of these can be implemented – my own feeling is that the first option is the fairest in principle. Not everyone will agree, of course.
There needs to be a discussion with Celtic and fans about which model we, as a club, prefer. Again – I suspect most people would agree that option 1 is, in principle, best.
HH
BGFC
Natknow
Apologies if the post was to me I didn’t see it.
I don’t want to say too much at the moment on a public forum but I do have reservations about the motives for any change in the current arrangements mate.
Natknow
Can I add that the Trust merely facilitated the meeting on the behest of others.
We are pointing no accusatory fingers but do believe that the current system, excluding priority for investor level ST holders, is the fairest way.
If Noel Edmonds shaved he and Hillary Clinton would be doubles….if she shaved as well.
Hail hail
Matt
Big G
As the Trust statement says, any change is very unlikely to happen this season.
The expectation is that our resolution will be passed at the AGM in November and subsequently the first meeting will take place in April.
That’ll be too late for any changes to impact on the rest of the season but will give us a much, much clearer idea of what’s to come.
We’ve already met and discussed the issue with Celtic since Monday’s meeting and will continue to update supporters on further developments mate.
BROGAN ROGAN TREVINO AND HOGAN SUPPORTS OSCAR KNOX, MACKENZIE FURNISS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO FIGHTS NEUROBLASTOMA on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 10:29 PM
hope the knee heals quickly
HH
HAMILTONTIM –
Cheers dude. My own view is that Celtic might want to more control over who gets Away tickets. One way of doing this is to make sure that Away tickets are only allocated to those who are a member of an official Association…
HAMILTONTIM on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 10:53 PM
TTR
…I met a friend last night who hadn’t been successful but was contacted yesterday by Celtic offering him a ticket…
—–
As was mentioned on Wed – communication’s an issue – Ticket Office never phoned me to offer a ticket :-)
(I’ll certainly try again tomorrow morning!)
It is without doubt NOT an easy job the staff in Ticket Office have – their management need to look at better IT support for the friendly human lassies and laddies that work there.
The should make much better use of personal text / email. Dentists and Doctor surgeries can keep in touch with customers – a premier club such as Celtic needs to look at this better (and not just as a method for targetted selling!!!)
HH
BGFC
Matt @19:58
Ya mentalist!
Turkeybhoy
It was Newarthill but I don’t think they were charged.
Living there was bad enough!
Thank feck PFayr doesn’t post anymore :-)
HT – yes – glad that any decision / discussion will be after the AGM discussion / vote on the ‘engagement’ resolution.
Grateful to the Trust for facilitating the meeting.
HH
BGFC
Natknow
Apparently, ye apparently the CSA only receive 350 for each away game to distribute amongst member clubs.
Basically, there are now very few buses which are members of the Association or Affiliation, most are independent buses and are treated as any individual supporter is regarding the allocation of tickets.
The Timreaper
The article you mention is reserving judgement and was edited by my from notes taken by someone who was there.
I was at Andy Lynch’s home on Monday evening organising the Q&A which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Before coming to an opinion on this we’d rather talk to people looking like Hamiltontim and Giggsy of this parish and others too.
I am also unsure of the situation concerning the independent buses.
And I have stated on here many times the need to do all we can for the travelling support from Ireland and even down south.
The club has more corporate supporters this year than over the past few years.
These guys spend more than the rest of us and when Fergus redeveloped the stadium he offered them a guaranteed ticket for away games.
We could win the league at an away ground with a small allocation and these could be swallowed up by these supporters – and I am not criticising them.
But there will be supporters who have travelled everywhere and could miss out on that special day.
There doesn’t seem to be any easy answers.
Goodnight Timland
HH
Dena
How is your daughter
Matt
The County Tavern Dingwall is mental. The Royal is what it is. Last night Dingwall was green and white.
Big G
I completely agree. I don’t think one person in attendance on Monday night was critical of the ordinary staff in the TO, it’s those making the decisions who are culpable.
Should add that we got 4 tickets last night and 5 for Saturday. We have increased that to seven by getting a previous favour returned and are still one short.
I was first on the list but put myself down to 8th to make sure all the Bhoys who have been to every game get there.
I wasn’t at Tynecastle at the start of the season as I was on holiday and wouldn’t have been entitled to one anyway.
So what a did was put a hanky over the mouthpiece….”is that Mrs lawell I asked….forhetting to put the double quotes in the proper place and even worse forgetting how to spell “forgetting”…”we’ll not do nice things to him if he doesn’t turn the heat down on the driveway “I mumbled….”is that you Matt? ” …I hung up ….she knew nothing about punctuation.
I gave in and sorted the driveway overheating problem.
Hail hail
Matt the taramacadamer
Winning C
Celtic are away to Man City in December. It’s one of the few away European games that I can make because I can hopefully get there after work.
I won’t be allocated a ticket from Celtic.
The reason ?
I don’t deserve one. I rarely am able to make away games so those who do go are more entitled than me. I won’t greet about it because I think that’s fair.
In the same vein the allocation of away tickets for domestic games should be the same.
Ps thankfully to the wonderful Phyllis D I’ve got tickets for the home end.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 11:27 PM
Dena
How is your daughter
You just got me was turning off computer
surgery went well and sample gone for testing so just waiting on results now
shes very positive so fingers crossed
Thanks
goodnight again
HH
dena29 on 27th October 2016 11:19 pm
Dena, the knee will be fine after a few days but isn’t half giving me gip just now.
But being immobile for a few days is the only downside.
Every best wish to your daughter and thanks for the kind sentiments.
Cheers
BRTH
its been proven, cowboy boot heels are not condusive for knee surgery recopertion
Dena
Sorry I’d gone to do something else. Please pass on our thoughts and prayers to B.
Four Four Two Magazines Top 50 Football Teams of all time.
And at No 14 you find …………………
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-50-best-football-teams-ever-20-11?page=0%2C1
Keith Jackson tweeting tit bits.
My bet is on Brian Kennedy and Souness riding to the rescue.
Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on 27th October 2016 11:48 pm
A good pair pf boots have medicinal powers!
dena
hope all is well with your daughter.
from brth link
1938 to 1965, only 2 league titles, 27 seasons 2 league titles,
————————
“They were sleek and tanned like film stars,” recalled Celtic’s Bobby Murdoch of the Inter Milan line-up, as Celtic prepared for the biggest moment in their history, the 1967 European Cup Final at Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional. “On our side there were quite a few with no teeth.”
But a lack of pretension and a sense of togetherness characterised this ragged band of brothers – hardly surprising, seeing as they were famously all born within 20 miles of Glasgow and cost just £42,000 to assemble – as they went on to become the first British side to seize Europe’s ultimate gong.
The Lisbon Lions should be admired for much more than just their pioneering victory on the continent. Scottish football was far more competitive back then: when Jock Stein took the helm at Parkhead in ‘65, Celtic hadn’t won the league for 12 seasons (Aberdeen, Hearts, Dundee, Kilmarnock and Rangers shared the glory) and had only managed the feat twice since 1938. Stein’s subsequent nine league titles in a row stand as one of British sport’s greatest achievements
Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-50-best-football-teams-ever-20-11?page=0%2C1#Q2LxeeXMRYTKzHzJ.99
MULLET AND CO 2 on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 11:59 PM
Keith Jackson tweeting tit bits.
My bet is on Brian Kennedy and Souness riding to the rescue.
It’s Brown making comeback for Scotland
Any legal eagles on?
I’ll check in morn, bedtime here!
Art of War
Not sure that I qualify anymore but I am lurking around.
aaahh.. Newarthill & Carfin …memories
aaahh..Keith Jackson and tit bits…mammaries
ART OF WAR on 28TH OCTOBER 2016 12:30 AM
Any legal eagles on?
—————————————–
Zoomers wi’ zimmers – that any good?
;-))))
So who would have gone in goals, had Gordon been sent off?
I think you need the most mental guy.
Broon. But he’s not there.
Griff. But he’s wee.
Nir moves like a sloth.
I would put Sinclair in goals. Not mental, but moves like nobody else in the team.
I know that most of you have probably asked yourselves the same question…
Why when the battery is obviously dead do I stand it up and point my finger at it and go ‘wooo ooooh’
I think I may have sorted it out.
Answer tomorrow..
Hail Hail
Matt
Natknow
Best description of me I have heard in a while!!
I will use that lol
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-37786757
Just seen this blatant attempt to demonise Celtic and our support.
How low can Rangers and their media acolytes go ?
BBC Scotland ? Masons with a microphone.
Don`t answer.