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
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 15
- »
Big Packy
They will hire the great survival specialist Sam Allardyce, hope this makes you feel better.
SEAN THORNTON on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 7:21 PM
Don’t think McLean had that bad a game yesterday.
After 5 mins he just decided that he was refereeing 2 teams consisting of cluggers and hatchet men, and decided to let them get on with it.
Either that or he didn’t want to weaken either side by red-carding a player who would then miss the final against his least favourite team-))
BIG PACKY
https://thecelticblog.com/2017/10/blogs/brendan-tells-his-english-suitors-and-our-hacks-that-hes-staying-at-celtic-park/
…….and breathe……………
bournesouprecipe on 23rd October 2017 3:25 pm
Yesterday’s rendition of “Who’s the fenian in the black” was a reference to Pedro Caixinha?
No, it was aimed at Peter Lawwell..
HH
DESSYBHOY thanks.
GLENDALYSTONSILS same as dessybhoy thanks.
Another clip of ‘nice’ Bruno Alves…
A wee bit concerned for Moussa if Alves plays against him next match…
Moult.
Plenty of experts on here fell over themselves to tell us Griff was A) Shite, and B) Morally compromised.
Moult’s papped a few in against us. Seems to be hitting a part of his career where consistency will make or break his legend.
Perhaps Celtic are looking at him as a fair investment – won’t cost us a lot and might be worth the punt if he comes good.
He’s not an unknown prospect with an exotic name, so the weight of public opinion will not be in his favour. bu tas a contrast, what has the highly-touted Edouard done to date?
Won’t upset me if Celtic snap him up – although I’d imagine the conversation has already taken place between the men who matter.
Another clip of ‘nice’ Bruno Alves…
A wee bit concerned for Moussa if Alves plays against him next match…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfx9xSGBU98
Big packy.
Brendan will be associated with every epl job vacancy.
The only one i would worry about would be Arsenal whenever that comes available.
But I think he is here for a 5 year plan
Paul, huns will NEVER win the league again.!!! Did not expect that from you at all.
Not one of your better comments sadly.
we should keep a calm exterior and show a bit of humility and enjoy what we have right now. It is brilliant.
However, things have a habit of changing.
Sure it’s great to watch hunbigots suffer, we all enjoy it, but please, no more silly smug remarks, you let yourself down. Rise above it.
KINGLuBO
WHAT IS THE STARS. thanks for reply .i love the man.
weebobbycollins on 23rd October 2017 7:51 pm
Another clip of ‘nice’ Bruno Alves…
A wee bit concerned for Moussa if Alves plays against him next match…
====================================
WBC, I’d be mor eworrie dfor Alves.
If Moussa’s back to his full fitness by then, he might fancy a repeat of the self-indulgent Hun-ragrolling he amused us all with at Mordor last hogmanay.
Big Brutal might feel a recurrence of that injury that ruled him out last month; his meta-shitebaggery condition.
Sandman.
23RD OCTOBER 2017 7:52 PM
Another injection of realism and quality.
HH.
you know what my brother in law ironicaly is a big scouse catholic. attends the metropolitan cathedral weekly. obviously a soft spot for us but everton comes first.
Bateen Bhoy, ach well, hope you are lucky to get a ticket. I’ll be watching on the box, but will be at CP on Sat, so maybe see you there. HH
Brendan said something along the lines of the other day, I paraphrase……
” We are building something here, [ he was talking in terms of euro football ] and we are just at the start of what we are building ”
I know things change, but those are not the words of a man who has any thoughts of leaving for an EPL club, there are only three or four that he would take in any case, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manure, maybes City.
He will be here for TIAR at least imo.
I would be more concerned if our manager was not being linked to jobs in the EPL.
Must be doing something right up here.
Did we win the UEFA fans award?
Big Packy
Davey Moyes
Sandman…agree with you that Moussa could lead him a merry dance-but the chancer is sleekit and dirty…we got a first inkling of that yesterday…he makes Pepe seem tame in comparison…
Brendan is rebuilding the football side of the Club, from the scouting, transfers,youth development,to the pitch at Celtic Park.He wouldn’t have that remit at any other club
the exiled tim. hope you are right hail hail.
Celtic win Fans Award at FIFA World Best Awards
Celtic win best fans award
Glory for Celtic, primarily for honouring the ‘Lisbon Lions’ with stunning 360-degree card display on 50th anniversary of historic European Cup win.
Philbhoy.
I believe so.
HH.
ADI_DASLER. would he go back i for one hope so lol.
‘The Best FIFA Awards LIVE!’
http://www.skysports.com/share/11095416
congratulations. to the best fans in the world.
HAIL HAIL THE CELTIC FANS ARE HERE!!!!!
Wonderful news and and puts the club in the spotlight for all the right reasons!!!!!
God bless you all!
Salt in the hun wounds…have they not suffered enough? No they have not…much more still to come! :-)
Linfield getting pumped 2-0
Embdae know who is picking up the award? Please not Bankier….
That’s great news, and well deserved by all in the stands at Celtic Park.
Something to be very proud of.
Would be nice if the club did something to acknowledge this.
HAHAHA Sky read out the fine we got today from UEFA with all the previous, and, BBC Scotland has the fine on their main page, they must have known about this award from FIFA,hard luck Jabba good news for the Celtic again.
So proud to be a Celtic fan
Bada
It’s on the main bbc football site but not on scotland one yet – hurting huns
Dessybhoy- seen that on Sky, pathetic