Spurs have dispensed with the man once thought Europe’s hottest guru manager (don’t believe in guru managers). Villas Boas was a failure as manager but he was a mere symptom of their problems. Splurging circa £100m on vagrant misfits should be enough to disguise the fact that you don’t have a sustainable strategy. For a while. But primary responsibility lies with whoever authorised the budget in the first place.
Selling that chap with the funny hair to Madrid went some way towards offsetting the cost of this summer’s acquisitions, but Spurs wage bill for the new arrivals will dwarf the money paid to those who departed. This is the more serious problem.
They are left with players on long and expensive contracts who look like they auditioning for a West End show. Forget about Spurs recouping their ‘investment’, the chances of players attracting contract offers which match the cash the Cockerel coughs up each month is zero.
The Bale money is gone and those new contracts written in the summer will inhibit the club for years. What next: downsizing, or another visit to the roulette table, gambling with even bigger stakes next time?
Here’s what happens when you sell your star player: everyone and their grannie wants the money spent. “The [Insert club name] board need to show their ambition”. This comes from fans, the media, the manager, scouts, family members and every taxi driver in a 30 mile radius. And why wouldn’t they spend an apparent windfall, that’s what the money’s there for, after all.
It’s at this point clubs lose all self-awareness. Reinforced by the success which led to the development and profitable sale of a prime asset in the first place, the organisation’s view of its reach, not to mention competency, is obliterated. “We have spent money well in the past, look, here is the evidence, therefore we can spend this even larger amount of money well now”.
With this belief now orthodoxy, every pore in the organisation secretes an intoxicating scent attracting the club to market. Unfortunately, the rewards for spending big are heady and instant, though they seldom last as long as the hangover.
Directors are celebrated, ticket and merchandise sales get a short-term kick. The manager and coaches get to play with more expensive toys; quite literally, everyone is happy. This is narco-football, only accommodated by ever-bigger hits. For some, this narco-football offers proof that management share wider stakeholder aspirations. I contend otherwise.
The heresy to this orthodoxy reads differently:
Clubs should mistrust their successes, they are evidentially more random than most are prepared to accept.
Windfall transfer income is more likely to draw clubs away from the part of the market they are most competent in. It is an acknowledged fact that sellers and agents literally see them coming.
Don’t go searching for the instant hit, you’re more likely to miss. If necessary, take some short-term pain while using resources to enhance recruitment infrastructure.
Heresy in any area of life is seldom met with quiet contemplation. Narco-football heresy is more likely to be met with a rationalisation that the heretics don’t share orthodoxy’s core values – sustainable success of the football club – no matter how many references to “sustainable success of the football club” they make. It’s Salem-esque.
The orthodox-heretic analogy is evident where three or more are gathered in any club’s name. The first club who manage to unite everyone behind the heretic’s charter will clean up/reach nirvana/find salvation/achieve ultimate enlightenment/do lunch with Tom Cruise.
CQteN St Patrick’s Day Dinner is now FULLY BOOKED. Many thanks for everyone who responded so quickly. We are well on the way to raising the money to build a kitchen and shelter at the Kholoni Primary School in Malawi (for details check here).
Just a few posting days left to order your CQN Annual before Christmas, £5 from every sale goes to the Malawi appeal:
Sean Fallon: Celtic’s Iron Man:
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twists- when you refer to wifi as wireless then you are in real trouble.
Casdon soccer was indeed brilliant, much better than Subbuteo.
That explains how Celtic got 46,108 for the official attendance on Saturday.
goldstar
Nonsense.
I hope ole sftb has sent that email to Celtic to explain how they can avoid playing Ajax in the tourney.
Gattusso being questioned over match fixing
SSN
Ole Bobby Charlton – takes on young goldstar
eddieinkirkmichael
17:50 on 17 December, 2013
http://m.stv.tv/news/west-central/257226-celtic-supporters-face-trial-over-pro-ira-songs-at-parkhead/
—
Disgrace, this needs to be challanged once and for all.. Does the song actually even mention the ira ?
SF, george galloway and who ever else may support the accused should be contacted by the celtic trust or CSA.
Before anyone starts a songs debate im not saying these songs should be sung at the football. But again … Who decides what songs are not acceptable ?
DBBIA yes I agree. Actually, My great grandfather installed a wireless burglar alarm. Now that would have been over 100 years ago. He left me the installation instructions which I’m happy to pass to you.
How to install a wireless security system:
Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men’s used work boots, a really big pair. Put them outside your front door on top of a copy of Guns and Ammo magazine. Put a dog dish beside it, a really big dish. Leave a note on your front door that says something like, “Slash, Razor and I have gone to get more ammunition – back in 1/2 an hr. Don’t disturb the pit bulls. They’ve just been wormed and they are a little edgy.
Do you know …he was never burgled….
We posted out copies of the CQN ANNUAL at lunchtime to the following destinations. Please order asap if you want to get your copy in time for Christmas. You can also pick up a copy at all Celtic stores as well as at Carlton Books and Timland in Gallowgate. If ordering from CQN please see the link below Paul’s article.
Uddingston
Saltcoats
Glasgow
Greenock
Sheffield
Tayport
Mount Vernon
Newcastle
Erskine
Duntochter
Edinburgh
Derry
York
Stebbing
Fort William
East Kilbride
Inverness
Homburg Staar Germany
Dublin
Mallow
Ballincollig, Co Cork
eddieinkirkmichael
17:50 on 17 December, 2013
They really do want to make the numbers equal.
Let the People Sing.
What a bigoted wee country.
Somebuddy,,, Earlier,oan here ..
Wiz Askin..
Who ur the Picks o’ Celtic’s Yoof Orchard…
Well.. Here ur a Coupla Titbits, Who May.. Tickle our Palates..in Few Years
doon the Lane.
Mark Hill.. He is a very,very, Promising… Mid Fielder/ C.B.
Cal Millar.. He was a well Known Child Prodigy…n who went oan tae become a Wunder Kinder
n.. who may or may no, go oan tae become Celtic’s answer tae…
Messi.
Liam Henderson.. He is a real talented ,kid. Who May or May No..mak the Leap tae Greatness..
A Youngster Named.. Caird.. ( Ah nevah did receive his Christian Name.)
He is a Real Precocious Talent.. He could Turn oot tae be the Best of the Loat..
But.. Again.. Maybe.. No.
These are.. at this Time.. the Best of the Best of oor Up and Comers..
Paul George.. used tae Be wan o’ these Picks..
Howevahhhhhh..
Since that Fatal Night.. Agin the G.A. Youth Team , when a Nasty Rear Assault, by a Brute of G.A. Player.. Put a Deid Stop Paul’s Widely Predicted Progress tae Celtic’s First Team.
Paul,received a Broken Leg..and..
Although, he his Injured Leg has ..Healed..
He has Never recovered his Scintillatin’ Form of Yore.
Now.. It looks like Paul… May or May not be
Ever again.. a Top Celtic Prospect.
Sad.. Ah hope that He Beats this Tough Break.
The Above Predos n Critques.. are No . Kojo’s
They Come fae.. the lips o’…. Three Celtic Coaches, who ..well.. Coach..in oor Yoof System.
Kojo
Still ,Laughing.
eddieinkirkmichael
17:50 on
17 December, 2013
http://m.stv.tv/news/west-central/257226-celtic-supporters-face-trial-over-pro-ira-songs-at-parkhead/
Celtic supporters to stand trial over ‘singing pro-IRA songs’
A group of Celtic fans are to stand trial accused of singing a pro-IRA song.
Seven supporters appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday charged with behaving in a way likely to incite public disorder by singing the song in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation.
Paul Duke, 37, Ross Gallagher, 29, Christopher Bateman, 28, David Gallacher, 22, Sean Cowden, 21, Kieran Duffy, 18, and Greg Robertson, 28, appeared in court accused of the offence.
They are charged with singing the Roll of Honour at three different matches at Celtic Park.
Here we go again.How many times has this charge been thrown out of court?.Just who were they offending?.Except for Tony Donnelly.An absolute farce.Once again filmed and charged at their homes.I am ashamed of my club.Totally.
TBB- Subbuteo too much of a palaver, had to put it on the carpet and ended up players patched up to their knees in airfix glue.
BSR- nice wee syrup Bobby is sporting there!
To be fair to Goldstar, the Casdon Soccer pitch quite accurately resembled the ole Glebe (after the moles had done their stuff) down by.
Subbuteo was the thinking boy’s game, strictly for the skilled artisan, although I always admired the way the goalie dived in SuperStriker, despite the chronic rate of neck injuries amongst the outfield players.
As for Casdon Soccer, everyone knows that you can’t play football with a ball bearing.
Goldstar
Ha..airfix glue. True!
Mind you, the players were tough in those days. I once managed a team and had to field 3 men with broken legs, 2 with broken arms and one even played with his head hanging aff.
TBB
the most common injury in magnetic fitba wiz bruised knuckles…..
As far as I can see the Roll of Honour does not mention the IRA but does a MP.
Breaking Syk news:
Gattusso learned every dirty trick in the book while playing for the Old Firm.
great article paul
well thought out
twists- Do you remember the wee sticky numbers you could get to put on the back of the players, you needed the steady hand of a micro surgeon to do this successfully- plus they sullied the hoops- but now of course we take numbers on our jerseys for granted.
eddieinkirkmichael
17:50 on 17 December, 2013
Cannot see it standing up in court.0
I had big brothers and New Footy was the bees knees (if a bit 2 dimensional)
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=new+footy&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NpWwUvSmMK6M7AbXm4HgDw&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1424&bih=779
TBB
True story. My parents didn’t have much in the way of spare cash, yet always made the effort to make christmas special. Catalogue, provvy cheque, never never, you’ll get the picture. I never had a bad christmas….until….I asked Santa for subbutteo. Santa always brought me what I wanted, and though I’d been a bad boy on rare occasions throughout the year, I went to bed quietly confident that Santa wouldn’t let me down.
Christmas morning around 1972.
” mum…has Santa been yet?”
Aye, but stay in bed till yer da kennels the fire.
I’m thinking ” yes…he’s been, I mustn’t have been too bad”
” right…ye kin come through”
I enter the living room and quickly work out what pile was mine. Santa was very good like that. He always left my brothers’ presents and mine in piles in different corners of the living room.
I quickly worked out which one must be the subbutteo.
I unwrapped the present, and indeed, it was a footy game, but didn’t seem to be subbutteo. It was cardboard men, and a cardboard pitch, which was played in similar fashion to tiddlywinks! It wiz crap. I hated it. It never seen the light of day.
Seemed as though Santa decided I hadn’t been bad enough that he wouldn’t call, but, bad enough that he was teaching me a lesson.
Many years later, as a father myself, I said to mum ” do you know mum, I only remember being disappointed once at Xmas, when I didn’t get my subbutteo, but got a cardboard game instead”
She remembered it well and told me she was heartbroken herself as she could see my disappointment.
She told me ” it was subbutteo you were going to get, but there were none left, and the man in the barras said “this is the very same as subbutteo hen”.
eddieinkirkmichael
17:50 on 17 December, 2013
http://m.stv.tv/news/west-central/257226-celtic-supporters-face-trial-over-pro-ira-songs-at-parkhead/
Celtic supporters to stand trial over ‘singing pro-IRA songs’
A group of Celtic fans are to stand trial accused of singing a pro-IRA song.
Seven supporters appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday charged with behaving in a way likely to incite public disorder by singing the song in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation.
Paul Duke, 37, Ross Gallagher, 29, Christopher Bateman, 28, David Gallacher, 22, Sean Cowden, 21, Kieran Duffy, 18, and Greg Robertson, 28, appeared in court accused of the offence.
They are charged with singing the Roll of Honour at three different matches at Celtic Park.
All of the men pled not guilty when they appeared at the court, represented by Paul Kavanagh, and a trial was set for next June.
Duke and Gallagher, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Bateman, from Irvine in North Ayrshire, Gallacher, from Glasgow, Cowden from Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, and Duffy from North Lanarkshire’s Coatbridge are accused of singing the song at the Champions League qualifier match at a Celtic against Elfsborg match on July 31.
Gallagher and Bateman are also accused, alongside Robertson, from Glasgow, of singing the song at Celtic Park on August 3 this year at the first Scottish Premiership match of the season.
Robertson and Gallacher are also accused of singing the pro-IRA song at a home league game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on August 24.
Cxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This state of affairs is truly disgusting.
This is surely the revenge game for hurting Huns.
They couldn’t destroy us on the park.
They are now trying to destroy our support !
Disgusting is the word
The Offensive Behaviour bill is now, it would appear, almost exclusively targeting otherwise normal law abiding citizens who just happen to be Celtic fans and singing songs which are perfectly legal to sing anywhere in Scotland other than a football stadium.
All those that think this bill is needed in the fight against sectarianism ask yourself this-
Why are fans being charged with offences under this legislation, that was meant to tackle sectarianism, when the songs themselves are not classed as being sectarian under any legislation in this or any other country that I know of?
Why has our club remained silent on this issue when they are supposed to be against this legislation?
What are you prepared to do to end this oppression of our support?
Top Subbuteo Goalkeeper
Bournesouprecipe
Hee hee…brilliant.
Goldstar
Indeed I do. Subbutteo was a boys gemme but, affixing those numbers wiz definitely needed a lassie….
Regarding Margarita and Blue Pitch…
It’s laughable that the SMSM continue feed the line that the “requisitioners” demand to know who these “mysterious investors” are, and fuel debate about the forthcoming RIFC AGM with all sorts of made-up dung (sorry, that’s the first word that came to mind).
Anybody that occasionally tunes into blogs like TSFM know exactly who they are (admittedly it doesn’t make good reading if you are a lover of – what once was – the beautiful game).
Internet bambots are perhaps a wee bit more inquisitive than your average Scottish broadsheet hack (aka, bear).
I can’t even imagine the record and sun efforts.
I predict less fall-out from the RIFC AGM than Celtic’s (min wage, Rory joke, GB, you name it).
Ach well, all’s well that ends well.
Gardez la Foi
Sixtae
The old SNP/ Focus alliance are fairly cranking up the jailed tims figures- not long before they can start using their statistics to prove that its us who are the troublemakers
Or is this just a new way of reducing the employment opportunities for Catholics?
Does anybody remember Super Striker game. The one where u pushed the players head and he blootered the ball?
Thought it was magic
TNT @ 18.24
I’m away bed after reading that.
HeartBreaking CSC
p.s. I got that cardboard game last year.
Evening Timland from a cold hun free mountain valley.
So how come if the players need a rest cos they are tired, we are trapesing off to Turkey to possibly, depending on results play Ajax.
Another kick in the nakas for the support.
Muney, muney muney.
HH
Burghbhoy
18:38 on
Unfortunately yes. We got that instead of Subbutteo. Good thing was though that you didn’t need any skill to play it
Shortbread with a Rangers CL 92-93 love-in. Don’t suppose anybody will mention that they shouldn’t even have been in the group stage. Total cheat.
The biggest selection headache for any Subbuteo manager was whether to go with the “stands up and makes himself big” goalie, or the “diving” keeper.
That, and the decision over sellotape or blue tack for the broken goal.
Jackie Bird is looking decidedly ‘Timmish’ tonight cue meltdown.