I’ve said for a while that very few people realise the enormity of what happened in Scottish football in 2012. Some thought there would be a three-year blip before ‘normality’ was restored. Until very recently prevailing perception is that the current ‘abnormal’ circumstances may last 10 years. The old normal isn’t coming back.
When I talked about how few people realised the permanent consequences of Rangers liquidation on the Scottish football to my brother, he was of the view that the penny wouldn’t drop until Newco were in their second season in the Premiership.
They had all the excuses in the world when they were in the lower leagues, and a genuinely good excuse during their first season in the top flight, but when things don’t improve in the second season, a retrenchment will start.
By then it will be evident that the legendary gap below Celtic is huge, that Newco are effectively cannon fodder, that their fans are a cash cow topping up the coffers of every club they visit (including Celtic), but that no matter what they pay for their season tickets, Newco will always be underfunded.
Season ticket sales at current levels are not sustainable to watch a team fail so miserably. Even this miserable team is not sustainable with the current business model. The retrenchment will be real and painful. Questions are now being asked about how they get themselves out of this mess (16 years too late). There will be no answer.
They will win the odd game against Celtic, and pick up a cup occasionally (if Ross County can do it anyone can), but Newco will only win the league if Celtic get their big move. Many football fans in Scotland will live the rest of their lives only seeing Celtic win the league. Just think of that for a moment. Buying your losers ticket each season will be a painful business. Some will find other things to occupy themselves with.
The real question that should be asked, is how sustainable is a Rangers club that’s as much chance of winning the title as St Johnstone? The answer will be evident by this time next season.
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Talking of CQN Naps, is it only the gee gees, or can it be football as well? If so I’d like to recommend it to one ‘punter’ on followfollow the other night…..
Mez
Gold star poster
Re Hearts v Rangers BT Sports
‘I fancy us to give them a doing tonight. 4-1 to the Gers
Thirds63@8,53
Said that on here before. Wright would also try his eyestrings out for Sevco. Far better manager than Mc Innes could ever hope to be unless Mc Innes hasn’t really been trying that hard because the Dandys are not his preferred option lol. Still think we will continue skelping both for some time to come.
HH
May perpetual light shine on Michael’s soul.
Looking at the Premiership table makes me think that Tommy Wright is a backs to the wall manager rather than a front foot manager. His teams have won more games and lost fewer games away from McDiarmid Park this season than when at home which encourages me about the Celts’ chances for a win tomorrow.
Of course, Craig Thomson in charge, other factors will influence the outcome. Hope the hoops prevail.
Won’t be there so now looking to get my fix at Cappielow on Monday against Thistle. The young team can jump four places in the league with a win. 6pm, brother and me will be there. Keep the game on, Celts.
Tally@9.24
Must ensure just looking for a manager with Frank as a first name….mmmm. Now where did I put my Cockley rhyming slang dictionary?
HH
R.I.P. Michael and may perpetual light shine upon you.
Geroid…..
You make a good point. Wright would try equally hard with the Don’s. That’s the difference!
Good morning from a frosty North Staffs
Going to Mass this morning so will say a prayer for Michael and the family he’s left behind
RIP
R.I.P…..Michael (the green oak )
Michael, the Green Oak, rest in peace.
GEAROID1998
Frank Spencer for the next hun manager!
Ooooh Betty!
HH!!
didn’t know Michael. Only know what good Celts have posted about him on here. Maybe this is appropriate HH
https://youtu.be/2M3wr4hYSf4
R.I.P Michael (the green oak ).
On the subject of honest mistakes, with the league a one-horse race maybe we’ll see some favourable decisions between now and May that can be used to balance the books in respect of any Cup game howlers to thwart the Treble.
Then again, maybe not.
Regarding managers,first I think you have to have a good personality, about you, know the way Football should be played, players,are confident with you,that’s seems to be the way things are with Brendan at the minute, Tommy Wright,is a decent manager,like John Hughes, whatever happened to Yogi,but I think he Wright,is at his level with St Johnstone,but I could be wrong.
In the context of Paul’s current blog and BRTHs post on Page 5 at 7.37 about Analysis year I bring you my word of the day.
anachronism
əˈnakrəˌnɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
“the town is a throwback to medieval times, an anachronism that has survived the passing years”
the action of attributing something to a period to which it does not belong.
“it is anachronism to suppose that the official morality of the age was mere window dressing”
Now who or what could that apply to?
Please read BRTHs words. It’s important that the door gets battered down. There will never be a greater opportunity to bring about real change in the thinking that has promoted division for years.
Regarding managers . . . one thing is for sure, they will not attract a top class manager that can run a club from top to bottom any time soon. We have won the Euro Lottery with BR while they can’t afford a scratch card.
Billy Davies remains available, a perfect fit.
¡Hola! ¡Hola! de Madrid.
Off to see Athletico later on with some tapas and watching the egg chasing as a warm up.
The Green Oak RIP
TIMBHOY3
My son’s a professional football who’s played for eight or nine managers. I asked him recently about the differences between them, the tactics, training, coaching etc,and what he considered to be most important. Man management was top of the list. In the lower leagues this attribute is probably more important in that clubs don’t have the time and resources to develop and build as full time clubs do. I can’t name names obviously but some of the fairly well known managers who come across well on tv/radio don’t possess good man management skills. Those who do at that level tend to achieve better results and a happy dress room is fundamental towards this.
I’ve heard enough about Martin O’Neills people skills, especially particular praise from Lambert and Lennon. It’s pretty obvious BR has it in abundance too.
Is it just me or is England rugby coach Eddie Jones
a complete knob.
Almore
Are you a permanent resident in Madrid ?
Lots of talk about proposed car parking restrictions around the stadium during match days/ events with the club making formal statement re: raising concerns about the council’s plans. Moving drivers 1km away is equal to shuffling the deck is all. Getting to Celtic park via public transport is awful for a huge proportion of fans for a whole number of reason not least the poor public transport and this proposal, if successful, is only gonna make things worse.
However, there is scope for increased car parking capacity in and around the stadium that the club ought to be working towards regardless of the council’s decision. Offering alternatives may assist the club to influence the council for the benefit of supporters, local business and residents.
Behind the LL Stand there are 2 car parks separated by a road which is defunct. By developing one whole carpark and adding top deck parking the club could easily add 300+ car parking spaces to the immediate envois of the stadium.
The Celtic triangle master plan (remember that) had a pedestrianised zone round the stadium. Car parking spaces formed the boundary and ran the length of the JS Stand to the front of the main stand and down the Celtic way where the superstore is situated. Get that done and you add another 150+ car parking spaces.
i.e. when finances permit build a new superstore, museum, ticket office, café and administration offices as planned, but do it beside the JS Stand and construct associated car parking (once complete pull down outdated superstore and finish off boundary).
Go to barrowfield training ground and replace 1 1/2 pitches directly behind the Celtic supporters club into a car park and again add top deck parking to create 500+ car parking spaces in total. Install part-time traffic signals for match day entrance/ exit.
1000 additional car parking spaces would ease on street parking. There would still be some scope to add more car parking spaces and top deck parking around the envois of the stadium thereafter. Construction cost could eventually be met by car parking charges but would take a considerable number of years. Even so, the parking spaces are needed and inaction is likely to see a greater cost to the club.
I doubt the cost of adding additional parking and public realm work (pedestrianised zone at JS Stand) outlined above would come to 20% of the £30+ million of the Champions League income.
HH
Rest In Peace Michael the Green Oak..
May your family be comforted today and going forward..
SP
AULDHEID on 4TH FEBRUARY 2017 10:42 AM
Good morning, I agree, we have now got the footballing side of things correct. An excellent manager who at the moment is balancing the short term goals magnificently whilst looking towards the long term strengthening of football matters.
It’s over to the board now in the next few months when the opportunity will surely arise due to long standing court cases coming to a conclusion, to nail and get on the record the truth about the cheating not only by the liquidated club, but also equally important the wrong doings of the SFA.
If the opportunity arrives and the club as BRTH suggested, hammers them all, then I will applaud the long term strategy of keeping quiet over this affair. However it that open goal is not taken by the board at that time then major question for me is, why?
HH Dan
Deniabhoy
Maybe once we have finally fell to a defeat…..or if hell freezes over, they may throw us a few decisions that can be used to prove these things even themselves out.
Until that happens(if) then it looks like they are doin their best to see us to see our run come to an end…..or let our players get kicked all over the place while they continue it.
I guess it eases their pain.
Im inclined to think we shouldnt touch Henry Onyekuru with a bargepole after his disappearing act.
Can anyone else see him doing the same to us if one of Englands elite come calling?
Maybe hes just a kid and it all got a bit much for him, or he was getting bad advice but it makes me wonder whether we could end up being in a similar situation ourselves one day if he ever gets to wear The Hoops.
Thunder Road – I watched BR going on to the park on Wed and shaking hands with everyone, including the officials. He actually gives the ref a couple of pats on the back. Don’t think I could have done that after some of the decisions I saw.
NYE BEVANS’ REBEL SOLDIER –
Eddie Jones is a bit like Mourinho – he hogs the headlines to take the pressure off the players.
I’d rather have people being a bit controversial rather than ‘one-game-at-a-time’ bland platitudes.
Laugh.
Laugh ?
http://www.footballinsider247.com/chris-sutton-delivers-scathing-verdict-rangers/
stephbhoy on 4th February 2017 11:14 am
A good comment, I agree with most.
Dinnae be turning Barrowfield into a car park though.
I remember the groundsman going ballistic (oh ok he just shouted) at a Lady for walking on the grass pitch, high heels and all that. I Loved that.
IBWT
TB.CSC
How standards have fallen at The Herald. From today’s Sports section, an article by Stewart Fisher on the SuperBowl subtitled “New York Patriots rated favourites to outshine Atlanta Falcons in gridiron showpiece in Houston”.
There are two teams in the final and they don’t even know where one of them comes from. Unbelievable.
Deniabhoy
Aye…..maybe by the throat!
Petec
Great video of KT last night.
Thanks for posting it.
He has so many qualities but his deliveries into the box are absolute class.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 4TH FEBRUARY 2017 11:26 AM
Herald copy the other day talked about ” changing tact “.
Are we observing the death throes of the print media ?
Hope so in the case of the Record.
Paul 67 Et al,
“They will win the odd game against Celtic, and pick up a cup occasionally (if Ross County can do it anyone can), but Newco will only win the league if Celtic get their big move. Many football fans in Scotland will live the rest of their lives only seeing Celtic win the league. Just think of that for a moment. Buying your losers ticket each season will be a painful business. Some will find other things to occupy themselves with.”
——————————–
IMO this is one of your most poignant articles for many a day and yes many of us have grasped the enormity of what you are saying.
The most important part for me is the reiteration of Celtic getting their big move. Do you know something concrete?.Anyway, It is refreshing to hear the issue has not gone away. It is more important than ever, and possibly the clock is ticking. Put frankly, we have to eventually leave Scottish football if we aim to meet our ambitions.
Life for a Celtic supporter is currently great, we are finally getting payback for decades of cheating , our team on the park is exciting, we are Winning the Celtic way with a great managerand our infrastructure has progressed over the last 30 years that many of us didn’t think possible. Our academy is finally showing its value for money.
However , is this sustainable in the long term?. Will we continue to attract and
more importantly keep top managers and players in a league devoid of any meaningful competition?.
Will our fans continue to buy Season Tickets and make the effort when the end result is predetermined?. Will our fans ever get realistic odds for a Celtic team or will they give up and bet on alternative teams.
There are warning signs for us and it would be foolish to ignore them.We are so far in front of the pack domestically that as Paul states we may never experience anything other than a Celtic domination. This may breed complacency and entitlement which is against everything we have ever stood for.
The reality we have while remaining in Scottish football is self explanatory. We will eventually downsize again to creat competition and our crowds will eventually drop off. Our ambition will be strangled, and it’s no fault of our making.
There is no old firm anymore , we must leave Scottish football; for Europe or England. We are a massivean club, with an unbroken proud history; to remain a massive club we must maintain or increase attendances . We must think not only in the short or medium, but long term. Change is inevitable
Yes Paul 67, indeed we have grasped the enormity of your article.
HH.
Thunder Road,
He is just getting better and better.
DFMc.CSC
It’s not just him.
It is the whole of Celtic.
Better
I love my Son ridiculing dafties moaning about nothing – a misplaced pass when it is 0-0 – when a multitude of points ahead of Everyone else.
Good Moaning Howevaaaaah.
Petec
The change in his fitness has been huge.
I dont think we realise(well i didnt think about it) how much a year can make to a lad that age and how much they develop but i think it is really showing with him.
Perhaps some of it is down to the training under Brendan as so many of his teamates look fitter too!
BTSPORT
Big Sutton ripping Darryl Currie , Warbiola, Weir& huns to bits !