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.
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CCB
Your wee cousin Margaret has been added to my prayers for the sick list. God bless her.
GARY67
JPT picked up the award, not a board member.
Aw naw- just realised it was just for the display on last day,I wish I could say I was part of it but my big cousin had my ticket as I was on way home from Santa ponsa:-)))
Gary67,
there was no one banned for the display,
Good night all from a very happy Tim!
DR online saying Bankier picked it up….
Brilliant news.
Was on Phil’s twitter time line there. The comments after he posted the official announcement are brilliant.
So many ” obsessed ” raging Huns.
A lot of good wishes from European fans and a handful from Palenstine.
Hail Hail
It was the pyro at the Hearts game and the banners at the Linfield game that we’re given as reasons as closure of GB section.
One of the few Celtic games I missed last season, due to being in Albufeira, pre Lisbon50, and Celtic supporters get a trophy. :)
Well done Almore who used my ticket. :)
Well done, the Green Brigade for their work in arranging the Lisbon Lions TIFO. I’m sure the club provided valuable assistance but, for me, it’s another victory for the Brigade. (Really, it’s UEFA apologising for the Palestine fine.)
Sweet coincidence the award falls in the week leading to a GB Foodbank drive. Bumped on etims today but not yet by paul67.
I’m one of those who think the lead article reflects paul67’s short expectations of RIFC’s survival prospects and not the impossibility of a league flag fluttering at Ibrox in the years ahead.
Gay67,
that is correct,the pyro was to blame for the bans,
the display itself was not to blame for people being banned
To every Celtic fan wherever you are on the planet be proud of yourselves,just that little bit more tonight.
goodnight all and thank you for being here.HH
Evening folks,
QQ if I may..
Thinking of going to the Kerrydale before the game on Saturday.
Does anyone know what time it opens at ?
Cheers
RP
Guyfawkes
Totally on your wavelength, re Paul’s leader today, and the Palestine aspect of this award. Maybe the fact we live a mile from each other. :))
The tifo was great but for me the more evocative is 67 minute singing of In the Heat of Lisbon, especially in the dark with the phone lights on. Every week home or away. Much more impressive and truly reflective of the fans appreciation. Just ask Bayern fans from last week how impressive this is…
HH
Hello this is WEE BGFC.
Gordy
Your post at 9.16 makes me glad that I have double R Garry name. ;)))
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Now ah know we’re like a broken record, however, has anyone got spares for Aberdeen please please pretty timmy please? :)
HH
WEE BGFC
RP- 11.30 am mate
Delaneys,
ha ha never even noticed,
Gary67,
my sincere apologies
Dumbhoy,
Agree. A smartphone is now part of our check list.
HH.
Wee BGFC
S’appenin G?
Magic meetin yer Ma, Da and you before the game in Munich.
We will do them in Paradise on Halloween.
Hail Hail
Linfield 2 Crusaders 5
Hello this is WEE BGFC. We already knew we were the best fans in the world. :D
HH
WEE BGFC
RP Mc
Sure it is 11.30 kerrydale opens.
The Battered Bunnet, very insightful post .
Cosy Corner Bhoy , I hope your cosin pulls through.
The food bank collection before this Saturday’s game will hopefully be even more succesful than the previous ones.
Items like tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, UHT milk, UHT fruit juice , male and female sanitary products , toothpaste, toothbrushes, tinned desserts, toilet roll,
Cash donations can be made also.
Collection points are at the bottom of the Celtic Way, Janefield Street at the turnstiles into the standing section and the bus park at west end of Janefield Street.
Oh and pet food as requested by the Glasgow North East foodbank .
Bada & DD,
Thanks guys, appreciated
RP
Dumbhoy
The 67th minute in Allianz Arena revealed how many Tims were in the home end. Lights in huge numbers from every home section. Magical
Wee question….a few minutes before Well’s first goal yesterday the camera cut to a shot of the hun crowd and commentator said, “There’s a familiar face” Anyone know to whom he was referring?
Another question…on which page is TBB’s post…?
WBC
Andy Walker? ;)))
an Bankier, collecting it on behalf of the club, was effusive in his praise for our fans, who last week brought great credit to themselves with a friendly invasion of Munich which turned Marienplatz Square into a sea of green and white scarves and jerseys.
“I want to thank FIFA, I want to thank all the fans who voted for us but the display that won was for a team of players who all grew up within a few miles of Celtic FC in Glasgow and were coached by a man who was a legend,” Bankier said.
“He was born in the East of Scotland and started his working career going down mines, mining for coal and he said to us in these days ‘A club is nothing without its fans’ and that philosophy we take to heart and that drives everything we do so it is on behalf of our fans, and all the fans across the world that I accept this honour with the gratitude and humility.”
WBC.
The Battered Bunnet his post was on number 3.
Hail Hail
Sky 403
Celtic 6 Rangers 2 on now
CCB & BMCuWP, ( and the 2 looking in Sisters ) thoughts and prayers with Margaret.
And huge congrats to the Green Brigade for organising and funding (ok they done some fundraising with other fans) the fantastic Tifo, winning this award
Given them some credit Celtic
RP MCMURPHY on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 9:23 PM
I thought it was 11:00, we’ve been in for last three home games, leave Coatbridge at 11:00 and been in before 11:30. I would recommend going in early as possible to get a good seat, fills up quickly. If your going in let me know lennybhoycfc@gmail.com and I’ll pass you my number.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
WITS
Magic heads up. Thanks
DD,
The same happened at Man City’s last season, except it really pished off the locals around me as they realised how many of us were in their stadium :)