Johnston curve: time to be honest

478

Newco director and former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston is getting a hard time for saying “We are probably doing a little better than we would have imagined back in the dark days of running out at Brechin in the fourth tier” and “we are probably ahead of the curve in reality if we finish second or third”.

Newco are not ahead of the curve if they finish second, given their budget and the experience of their playing squad, they are where they should be.  Another third place finish would be behind the curve, but these are semantics.

The big question is, are this club ‘going for 55’ or was that phrase no more than a device to sell season tickets?

Second for Newco is right on the curve.  If they don’t reach there this season, they will soon, and they will finish second more often than any of their direct competitors.  Johnston’s job is to convince 40,000 people to buy tickets for a competition they know Celtic will win.

I understand why Newco do not run with the phrase “going for second place next time” on season ticket renewal campaigns, but they were only delaying the inevitable.  Many other clubs can be frank with supporters on what their ambitions for the season are, but can you really imagine this level of honesty at Ibrox?

Me neither.  They will spin some old tat to an ever dwindling demographic.  Still, at least the club is in the hands of Dave King and not Mike Ashley, one of Europe’s richest men.  That whole effort worked out well.

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  1. Fairhill Bhoy 7.55

     

    That made me smile. Thanks buddy. :-)

     

    I’m certainly getting some serenity.

     

    My wife is away for 6 days to a Buddhist retreat in the mountains in Malaga.

     

    My oldest daughter has taken the youngest for the weekend. So it’s just me. I can’t recall the last time that happened.

     

    Hail Hail

  2. Then2DembeleesComeAlongAtWance! on

    Tune for Broon: –

     

    (Stone Roses – Shoot You Down)

     

     

    We know it,

     

    He’ll show it,

     

    And Scott Brown has come to shoot you down, what a sound,

     

    When the game is won, and it all works out,

     

    We do the Broony and you know Diouf always had it come-in

     

     

    doo doo du doo dooooo dooooo,

     

    doo doo du du dooo doooo

     

     

    Mon the broony!

  3. Thinking longer won’t result in any further answers won’t result in any more answers, so –

     

    1- United Arab Emerites

     

    2 – No idea

     

    3 – No idea

     

    4 – UB40 (was between them and The Monkees)

     

    5. Sly Stalone

     

    6. Island Records

     

    7. Italy

     

    8. Pig

     

    9. No idea

     

    10. Ted Danson, Tom Sellick

     

    11. Delialah (not Ronny)

     

    12. Radio

     

    13. Cook

     

    14. Sting

     

    15. 1986

  4. 1. Dubai

     

    2. Kelly’s Heroes

     

    3. New Amsterdam

     

    4. Ub40

     

    5. Sly Stallone

     

    6. Island

     

    7. Russia

     

    8. Bat

     

    9. Mali

     

    10. TomSellick, Ted Danson, ?

     

    11. Delilah

     

    12. Radio

     

    13. Tasman

     

    14. sting

     

    15. 1984

  5. 1.South Korea

     

    2. Kelly’s Heroes

     

    3.Don’t know

     

    4 Ub 40

     

    5. Nick Nolte

     

    6. Island

     

    7. Azerbaijan

     

    8. Bat

     

    9.Don’t know

     

    10. Tom Sellick Ted Danson

     

    11. A servant don’t know name though

     

    12 Don’t know

     

    13 Cook

     

    14 Sting

     

    15 1985

  6. Hi Paul67,

     

     

    Interesting stuff from AJ…

     

     

    And as you say, it’s difficult to see Sevco Rangers as ahead of the curve.

     

     

    None the less, a sobering and in some respects, realistic assessment.

     

     

    Now, I’ve thought for sometime comparing and contrasting Sevco Rangers with Celtic from an all encompassing position is from an outsiders perspective, very interesting.

     

     

    From that perspective, if we look at Sevco Rangers as the heir apparent to the Original Rangers then their potentiality is the same as Celtic’s.

     

     

    Yet where’s the actual curve now and where could it be? A few musings…

     

     

    Ibrox Supporter’s expectations – somewhere between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid

     

     

    If, from start up, they had been an Excellently and Professionally run Organisation – Where Glasgow Celtic are just now (beyond the curve)

     

     

    If they were a well run organisation reaching their potential – a larger more successful Aberdeen (Where the curve should be?)

     

     

    An organisation encumbered by poor start up decisions and legacy baggage – Competing with the Hibs, the Hearts and the Aberdeens (where they are Now? On the Curve!? AJ is right !?!)

     

     

    An organisation encumbered by legacy baggage and poor leadership – looking like Scotland’s 4th Club in Europe. Mid-top Six in the Table in next Season’s European and SPL campaign (where they are heading at present, behind the curve).

     

     

    To state the obvious, it’s a critical times for Sevco Rangers. Where are they headed? The way I see it…

     

     

    Best case scenario, a radical overhaul of the Board and Playing side of Sevco Rangers by people with expertise and a passion for the Club may allow development to their full potential in the long term

     

     

    Or Mediocrity, they get rid of the toxic management put in place a solid and workable business plan, this may see them as the best of the rest over the medium term.

     

     

    Or, true to form, carry on regardless… an insolvency event in the short term…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  7. fairhill bhoy on

    JIMMYNOTPAUL-you stay healthy and enjoy the peace and quiet,although Malaga is is flipping good to

  8. 1,,,Which country is the worlds tallest building in ?

     

     

     

    UAE

     

     

    2,,,Which movie gave us Big Joe and Oddball ?

     

     

    Dodgeball

     

    3,,,New York was previously known as,,,?

     

     

    Amsterdam

     

     

    4,,,Which of these has had the most UK number 1’s,,,

     

     

     

     

     

    Celine Dion

     

     

     

    5,,,Who was born first,,,

     

     

     

     

    Sly Stallone

     

     

     

    6,,,Bob Marley and the Wailers signed with which record label whilst stranded in London ?

     

     

    Pass

     

     

    7,,,The largest lake in Europe is in which country ?

     

     

    Germany

     

     

    8,,,Which animal has types called Hog nosed,,Leaf nosed,,Yellow Eared,,and Pale Spear nosed ?

     

     

    Snake

     

     

    9,,,Bamako is the capital city of,,, ?

     

     

    Mali

     

     

     

    10,,,The 80’s gave us the movie 3 Men and a Baby,,,name the 3 actors.

     

     

    Schwarzenegger

     

     

    11,,Who cut off Samsons hair ?

     

     

    Pass

     

    12,,What did Guglielmo Marconi invent?

     

     

    Wine

     

     

    13,,Who is credited with discovering New Zealand ?

     

     

    Columbas

     

     

    14,,Which music artist released The Dream of the Blue Turtles in 1985 ?

     

     

    Sting

     

     

    15,,The Ford Capri was last produced in what year,,,

     

     

    1984

  9. Great questions Mahe,

     

    Won’t post the answers as we are all debating them as we contemplate winning the league tomorrow.

     

    But the one guy who everybody will not get I think is Steve GUTENBERG…

  10. 1.Dubai

     

    2.?

     

    3. New Brunswick

     

    4. Monkeys ?

     

    5. Stallone?

     

    6.island

     

    7. Baku ?

     

    8. Shrew

     

    9. Mali

     

    10. T.Selkirk. b .crystalline ..Steve Martin ?

     

    11. Delilah

     

    12. Francophone

     

    13. Cook

     

    14.sting

     

    15. 84

  11. Posted earlier about the sad, untimely death of Avicii, although only 28, he created house for hunger, a charity dedicated to alleviating global hunger and has helped distribute over two million school meals throughout Africa.

     

    A decent legacy for one so young.

     

    Hail Hail

  12. Mahe the Madman on

    New general knowledge questions 1

     

     

     

     

     

    1,,,Which country is the worlds tallest building in ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Dubai

     

     

     

    2,,,Which movie gave us Big Joe and Oddball ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Kellys Heroes

     

     

    3,,,New York was previously known as,,,?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,New Amsterdam

     

     

     

    4,,,Which of these has had the most UK number 1’s,,,

     

    Stevie Wonder

     

    UB40

     

    Celine Dion

     

    The Monkees

     

     

    Answer,,,UB40

     

     

     

    5,,,Who was born first,,,

     

    Samuel L Jackson

     

    Christopher Reeve

     

    Sly Stallone

     

    Nick Nolte

     

     

    Answer,,,Nick Nolte

     

     

     

    6,,,Bob Marley and the Wailers signed with which record label whilst stranded in London ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Island Records

     

     

     

     

     

    7,,,The largest lake in Europe is in which country ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Russia

     

     

     

     

     

    8,,,Which animal has types called Hog nosed,,Leaf nosed,,Yellow Eared,,and Pale Spear nosed ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Bat

     

     

     

     

     

    9,,,Bamako is the capital city of,,, ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Mali

     

     

     

     

     

    10,,,The 80’s gave us the movie 3 Men and a Baby,,,name the 3 men.

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Ted Danson,,Steve Guttenberg,,Tom Selleck

     

     

     

     

     

    11,,Who cut off Samsons hair ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Delilah

     

     

     

    12,,What did Guglielmo Marconi invent?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,the radio

     

     

     

    13,,Who is credited with discovering New Zealand ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Captain Cook

     

     

     

    14,,Which music artist released The Dream of the Blue Turtles in 1985 ?

     

     

     

    Answer,,,Sting

     

     

     

    15,,The Ford Capri was last produced in what year,,,

     

    1984

     

    1985

     

    1986

     

    1987

     

     

     

    Answer,,,1986

  13. Fairhill Bhoy.

     

    I’m not sure what I’m being thanked for, but maybe Mahe will give me a bonus point any way. :-)))

     

    Enjoy life and your special moments with your Dad.

     

    Hail Hail

  14. Mahe the Madman on

    General sports questions

     

     

     

    1,,,How many throws are needed for the quickest checkout in a game of darts ?

     

     

     

    2,,,In ten pin bowling what is three strikes in a row called ?

     

     

     

    3,,,Who made the first live televised 147 break in snooker ?

     

     

     

    4,,,The first competitor since 1928 to represent Great Britain in Olympic Ski Jumping ?

     

     

     

    5,,,Which competition has a pineapple on top of its trophy ?

     

     

     

    6,,,The largest fish ever caught by rod and reel weighed in at over one ton,,,true or false ?

     

     

     

    7,,,Legendary American motorcycle daredevil ?

     

     

     

    8,,,Which two former number one tennis stars got married in 2001 ?

     

     

     

    9,,,The youngest manager in the Bundesliga manages which team ?

     

     

     

    10,,,In what sport would you find jammers and blockers ?

     

     

     

    11,,,Which footballer was called “ the one man defence “ ?

     

     

     

    12,,,British boxer who lost to Ali in 66 ?

     

     

     

    13,,,Who was the last permanent player – manager in the top flight of English football ?

     

     

     

    14,,,The sport that draws the most spectators in the good old U S of A is,,,

     

    NFL

     

    NBA

     

    NASCAR

     

    BASEBALL

     

     

     

    15,,,Early in his career he was called “ the Black Pearl of Inchicore “ ?

  15. Just logged in for the quiz…..and am gonna cause some controversy….Marconi invented nowt….sorry Mahe…..

     

     

    Marconi died in 1937. Tesla died in 1943 and six months after his death the US Supreme Court ruled that all of Marconi’s radio patents were invalid and awarded the patents for radio to Tesla. So, for the past 64 years, we still believe that Marconi invented radio. Few actually know of Tesla’s radio inventions.

     

     

    Hope all went well with Weefa today….and his recovery is swift and complete

     

     

    Delaneys…RIP Flo Tracey….sounds that she had a great send off….

     

     

    YNWA

     

     

    H.H.

  16. (Ahem) Dubai is not a country. And the question DID say, “Which country…”

     

     

    scramblingforpointsCSC

  17. 1.nine

     

    2.Jammy

     

    3.Thorburn

     

    4 Eddie The Eagle

     

    5 Don’t know

     

    6. True

     

    7 Evil Knevil

     

    8. Agassi and Graf

     

    9. Hoffenheim

     

    10. No idea

     

    11Don’t know

     

    12 Cooper

     

    13 Dalglish

     

    14 Nascar

     

    15oh ah Paul McGrath

  18. 1. 9

     

    2. Miracle

     

    3. Cliff THorburn

     

    4. Eddie ‘the eagle’ Edwards

     

    5. English premiership

     

    6. False (torn between that and ‘true’ )

     

    7. Evil Knevil (sp)

     

    8.

     

    9. Dortmund

     

    10. Bowls

     

    11. Bobby Moore

     

    12. Henry Cooper

     

    13. Gordon Strachan

     

    14. Baseball

     

    15. Wis he, aye?

  19. Mahe –

     

    This week would you have the time to give each person’s score after each round? And is it 3 rounds (so I can let Mrs Baldie know when I’m back in the real world ;-) )

  20. Mahe.8.35

     

    It is, my understanding is Deliah ordered his hair to be cut but she didn’t cut it.

     

    It’s all good fun though eh. :-) :-)

     

    Hail Hail

  21. 1. 9

     

    2. Turkey

     

    3. Steve Davis

     

    4. Eddie the Eagle

     

    5. Men’s singles at Wimbledon

     

    6. False

     

    7. Evil Kineaval

     

    8. Stefi Graf and Andre Agassi

     

    9. Hoffenheim

     

    10. American football

     

    11. Barest

     

    12. Henry Cooper

     

    13. Gianluca Vialli

     

    14. NFL

     

    15. Paul McGrath

  22. Mahe

     

    This is like Kelly’s quiz in Luz, no way of you knowing that but great all the same.

     

    Got my wife and daughters involved and we’re arguing, in a good way, about the answers. Top Friday night entertainment…

  23. Mahe the Madman on

    Jobo,,ill post scores sure. And we have 4 rounds lined up tonight my good man.

     

    Hail Hail

  24. 1,,,How many throws are needed for the quickest checkout in a game of darts ?

     

     

    9

     

     

    2,,,In ten pin bowling what is three strikes in a row called ?

     

     

    Triple strike

     

     

    3,,,Who made the first live televised 147 break in snooker ?

     

     

    Hendry

     

     

    4,,,The first competitor since 1928 to represent Great Britain in Olympic Ski Jumping ?

     

     

    Pass

     

     

    5,,,Which competition has a pineapple on top of its trophy ?

     

     

    Tennis

     

     

    6,,,The largest fish ever caught by rod and reel weighed in at over one ton,,,true or false ?

     

     

    False

     

     

    7,,,Legendary American motorcycle daredevil ?

     

     

    Pass

     

     

    8,,,Which two former number one tennis stars got married in 2001 ?

     

     

    Aggassi and Graff

     

     

    9,,,The youngest manager in the Bundesliga manages which team ?

     

     

    Mainz

     

     

    10,,,In what sport would you find jammers and blockers ?

     

     

    Rugby

     

     

    11,,,Which footballer was called “ the one man defence “ ?

     

     

    Schmeichal

     

     

     

    12,,,British boxer who lost to Ali in 66 ?

     

     

    Frazier

     

     

    13,,,Who was the last permanent player – manager in the top flight of English football ?

     

     

    Dessailly

     

     

     

    14,,,The sport that draws the most spectators in the good old U S of A is,,,

     

     

    NFL

     

     

     

     

     

    15,,,Early in his career he was called “ the Black Pearl of Inchicore “ ?

     

     

    Pass

  25. Mahe the Madman on

    Gutenberg, how about you lot form a team next week? Glad youre all enjoying it. Hi Gutenberg crew!

     

    Hail Hail

  26. 1.9

     

    2. Turkey

     

    3. J. Spencer ?

     

    4.Eddie Edwards

     

    5.tennis

     

    6.false

     

    7.evil knivel

     

    8.Graff and

     

    9.gladbach ?

     

    10.curling

     

    11.

     

    12.cooper

     

    13.Kenny D

     

    14nascar

     

    15.mcgrath

  27. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Mahe, Kelly’s Heroes was on the TCM channel here earlier today . Still as good as ever . Donald Sutherland as Oddball is fantastic. One of his best performances.

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