As Motherwell won their semi-final yesterday against the second most expensively assembled team in Scotland, the penny began to drop with the last hold-outs that Brother Pedro will be remembered as little more than an expensive stop-gap in the attempt to stop Celtic winning 20-in-a-row.
Let’s be clear: Pedro is not in the top two managers in the league, in fact, Celtic, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Motherwell, Hibs, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Dundee all have demonstrably better bosses. But there was a reason he was appointed late last season, despite better candidates being (under)employed in Perthshire.
Appointing a competent, provincial, manager, like Tommy Wright, would be an acknowledgement that Newco had no illusions of competing with Celtic. In that role, Wright would out-perform Hibs, Motherwell and St Johnstone, and give Aberdeen a run for their money, but he is not an alchemist.
There is a difference when you appoint an exotic as manager, even an incompetent one. Few potential season ticket customers know what you really have with an exotic. He could be incompetent, but you can equally hope that he turns out to be a truly great appointment, with access to hitherto unexploited talent.
There was no point in Newco giving the job to a reliable but unspectacular candidate like Wright. This club needs to propel itself into a position where it competes against an elite Celtic team, and can navigate its way through four Europa League qualification rounds.
If it lowers the Union Jack and raises the White Flag to mark Surrender of league aspirations, its self-image would be destroyed. I could debate the commercial viability of an aspirational Newco with you all day (fanciful), but it appears that even the decision makers at Ibrox regard the viability of a subservient Newco as untenable.
The club faces Hobson’s Choice. Throw money it cannot afford at strategies selected BECAUSE correct due diligence is impossible, or downsize to a point they know will have a negative impact on ticket sales and future income.
20 years ago this week, Rangers beat Dunfermline 7-0 and were hot favourites to win 10-in-a-row, but the business model had a fundamental weakness: the club were haemorrhaging cash. You can debate whether the subsequent liquidation and newco phoenix club is the same or different to the Rangers some of us are old enough to remember.
What is irrevocably true is that Newco is unrecognisable from Rangers in one hugely important aspect: it will not win the league. Ever.
JUST OUT! MATCH DAY SPECIAL CQN PODCAST FROM HAMPDEN, FEATURING SOME OF FIFA’S BEST FANS IN THE WORLD…
ORDER Charlie Gallagher? What a Player! and we’ll send you a copy of The Winds of Change for FREE only at www.cqnbookstore.com
537 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 15
- »
Bateen Bhoy, good to meet you and Mrs BB in Munich. You at the game on Wed? HH
CCB. Prayers said for your wee cousin’s complete recovery.
!!BADA BING!!
I actually thought Clancy reffed our game quite well on Saturday. Much better than McLean did on Sunday.
CCB – Thoughts and prayers with your cousin at this difficult time.
HH
ccb – prayers being said
McLeans ignoring of Cardoso’s elbow on Moult gave him no option other than to ignore Bowman’s similar assault on same player.
Morelos will make it difficult for all referees with his diving and propensity to leave the boot in.
The diving at even the slightest contact makes it hard for refs to judge.
The gamesmanship of the huns from management to players is bordering on farce.
TIMJIM on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 4:00 PM
Bada
Is it me or JimTim your posting to
Sorry, for you mate, a heavy weekend…
Quonno- totally agree, it all adds up HH
GlenD- i think the players helped Clancy by trying to play the game fairly, as opposed to yesterday…
Bada
Easy mistake maybe I should change it to my Sunday names. TimothyJames :0). :0)
Bada
I agree with you on your comment about Mould, but would that suit the player?
Cosy Corner Bhoy
A wee prayer said for your cousin.
May she get better soon.
HH
NOTTHEBUS on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 12:23 PM
Whats gonna kill the new Rangers is pretending to be the old rangers
—————————-
Out for business today I had to pass by the badgers hovel a couple of times.
In an attempt to follow follow celtic they have added graphic tarpaulins around the higher levels of the stadium, hiding wear and tear for sure, but all about the same club myth, statements about titles and cup and kech like that.
if i was a small business who lost money in the original rangers i would go after the new entity to pay it.
Louis Moult–Billy McKay–Liam Boyce–Michael Higdon–Nadir Ciftci…….???
Only asking…
Timjim- Moult will be on about a grand a week, we could give him 7 or 8 times that and he would bite your hand for that, i think he would give us a different option up front , good in the air and keeps possession well.HH
The Battered Bunnet.
Thanks for taking the time to put all of that together.
A very interesting read and enjoyable !!!!
Bournesouprecipe.
Now that assistant has apologised to Celtic, you maybe want to have a wee word with your Motherwell supporting acquaintance :-))
Hail Hail
See Brendan is getting pelters on FF for stating the obvious about McLean’s and Bowman’s performance yesterday. I guess they have sussed his true intentions and it was not to back up Pedro.
Wee Bobby- you could well be right mate, if we got him for about 500k, we would make our money back if it didn’t work out IMO
To many managers when signing players use to narrow parameters.
The team should be the focus and wether that individual is suited to the overall strategy.
Koeman just paid the price for to much focus on players individual ability.
He signed players who excelled elsewhere.
The huns strategy is only based on foreign names.cheap price and availability.
A strategy that is doomed due to all of the above.
Bada
He could get that down in England with a Championship club or maybe a First Division club.
The Battered Bunnet.
A braw post.
Anyone got any info on the Fans Forum meeting tonight at Celtic Park, talking to one of the Directors today but he was in a bit of a rush so did’nt have time to get the full picture. H H Hebcelt
‘The huns strategy is only based on foreign names.cheap price and availability.’
or according to the ole Wiki/EWLM/EWTB ‘The Huns preferred to fight at long range, utilizing ambush, encirclement, and the feigned retreat.’
-to say nothin’ of the ole flyin’ elbow.
DBBIA/StUrsulaCSC
HEBCELT on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 4:45 PM
Anyone got any info on the Fans Forum meeting tonight at Celtic Park, talking to one of the Directors today but he was in a bit of a rush so did’nt have time to get the full picture. H H Hebcelt
——-
It starts at 7pm in the Jock Stein suite. I think you need to give your name before you go but it should be ok to just turn up, I’m not sure. The agenda item tonight is strict liability.
Timjim- he could, i think we have been a striker light for a couple of seasons, not a lot coming through the ranks to play up front.
Nakas, Moult worth a punt imo. We’ve done not too bad with previous signings from Motherwell.
The Hun’s mind set is that they are still the same club and because of that think they are still a big club. They cannot get it that they will not catch us unless they do a Man City and some rich person is willing to pour millions into their poor wee club as a play thing. They are stuck with the Lying King and just do not get it that he is unwilling or more likely not able to spend the millions necessary. As I have said many times Silly Billys.
how does charlie adams expect sevco to finance more british players – welsh or Irish league ?
I wonder if Pedro will last until the end of December when we will play them next. In fact will Sevco last till then.
Thetimreaper Thanks for that H H Hebcelt
Cosy Corner
Best wishes to your cousin, hope she make a full recovery.
On the subject of revenues and growing these, why don’t the football authorites here arrange a match between the winners of the American/Canadian football[soccer] league and the winner of the SPFL Premier league, call it the Atlantic Cup or something, play it over there or alternate it, would help the exposure of both leagues, TV would probably go for it and would give a chance for the North American support to see the team in a competitive match. Anyone think this might be a goer as the NFL is not afrain to broaden its horzons and look for new markets?
Wee Wee Jamesie
Bourne
He’s no changed
Chapéu mágico
-Portuguese for ‘magic hat’.
Not that you hear so much about them, these days.
I’m sure Moult is out of contract in the summer so no transfer fee required however he’s no where near Dembele or Griff level so would be a pointless signing for the club and the player
Fanatic
I agree, the Huns made it too obvious what the tactics were.
The first couple of challenges, nothing challenges had them rolling around, far to obvious.
McLean knew he was being had.
He then booked Bowman for an accidental arm, and let of a hun for the same on Moult.
He then knew he couldn’t give Bowman the red (having viewed identical incidents at half time).
Bowmans challenge was a bad one, however unlike Tierneys in the cup final he always was just looking at the ball, Jayden Stockley had a look first then done Kieran.
None of the commentators mentioned this, strange eh.
Pedro’s comments today has us entering the end of his reign, would be very surprised if he lasts more than a week which is a shame, such entertainment.
CCB..
Thoughts with your cousin mate, hopefully a good recovery. HH
I blame green boots