10 years ago today Jimmy Calderwood was manager of Aberdeen. If a nostalgic journalist troubled the Tanned One on what his old club could do to prevent Celtic disappearing further over the horizon, can you imagine him saying: “The board need to bridge the gap with Celtic, spend big and put Aberdeen back where they belong”?
It would be a ridiculous suggestion. Celtic turnover circa £65m more than Aberdeen, trying to match the champions in any meaningful way would jeopardise the club’s 112 year history.
Calderwood, isn’t so daft. But Walter Smith, who 10 years ago was Rangers manager, now advises Newco to spend big in order to catch and stop Celtic. Newco will turnover around £50m less than Celtic.
Football clubs who are engaged in a competitive struggle, either cut their cloth to suit their circumstances, or are destined for insolvency. Of the tens of thousands of registered football clubs in the world, Newco, more than any, should be wedded to a strategy of matching expenditure to income. They should know better.
Live within your means, pay your bills, build up a track record of responsible trading. Develop youth talent to the best of your ability, plan seasons in advance, and you have an excellent chance of improving as a football team year-on-year. Whip up unreasonable expectations, become a serial loss-maker, crave short-term hits like an out of control addict, and your chances of sustained development are zero.
It beggars belief that in 2017, not five years since the shadow of liquidation walked up Ibrox’ marble staircase listing every asset in the building for sale, that a hugely experienced authority is putting a futile trophy hunt before the financial security of the club.
The ball is rolling on this now. The vast majority of fans only hear “Spend, spend, spend”. Responsible voices suggesting Newco spend what they earn, irrespective of the consequences on the league table, will be abused as heretics (been there).
David Murray’s ‘speculate to accumulate’ narrative needed Rangers to be competitive at the top end of an inflating market. It worked while these conditions were in place but fell apart when the market in England softened in 2001. Rangers could no longer sell their duds at a profit and the game was over. It’s not been a viable strategy in Scotland for 15 years. The subsequent crash and burn was inevitable (although liquidation wasn’t).
Any team wedded to a strategy which requires them to spend money they can ill afford, to achieve an outcome which is beyond their reach, is destined for insolvency.
Is competing for second place really that bad that you need to risk it all to ‘stop Celtic reaching 10’? Aberdeen, Hearts and Motherwell seem to enjoy their football in this reality, most fans pitch up week-after-week despite lesser ambitions. I haven’t heard a single voice of reason on the financial strategy across the city from within their own ranks.
You know how this story ends.
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BRTH, what’s the prices so for expressing an interest in travelling and receiving the info.
Thanks in advance!
Brendan and Kolo .
Movin` and shakin` .
KAMPALA.
The Cranes received a renowned guest at their London Suites Hotel in Dubai in the name of Kolo Toure and the Ivorian legend offered words of encouragement on Uganda’s return to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I am happy to meet you all,” said Toure, whose presence together with his Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers fired up the camp with several players immersing in selfies with the former Arsenal player.
Prices = process apols.
CRC
Thanks pal.
HH
Marty
Great to see you post.
Thanks pal.
HH
EstorilBhoy
Right now there are quite a few of us flying from Edinburgh on 23rd May and returning on the 28th with Easyjet.
If you are interested can I suggest that you check their site (there is availability still but the flight is busy) and book any seats etc.
I am looking at group accommodation so if you are going and want to be included in the larger group then let me know and I will try and include you but the quicker the better as I hope to have a lot of this firmed up in the next few weeks.
Hope that helps.
BRTH
Delaneys
Not sure if I mentioned before, my mum’s maternal side are all Sligo
Was with two of the 2nd generation today – in their 70’s now but never a dull moment and they make me laugh. Still have the pleasure of visiting one of the 1st gen., now in her 90s and sharp as a tack…
Tubbercurry/BunnanaddinCSC
DD
All the best my Kirkton Road dribbler. :)
Would a second liquidation event be referred to as “Twice cooked Goat”
SeS
My ma is a Delaney fae Sligo town, though she was born in a single end in Maryhill. :)
M McG
My mam’s hoose in Kirkton still faces the pitch. Future Scottish internationals like John Wark, Alan Rough and Tosh McKinlay played in our 20 odd a side games, wi us pair of bums. :)
Good morning to all Tims, from a hot and sultry Queensland.
Mornin` , BIG PEAT
Nice shot of Aussie Tom Rogic with family members in Dubai.
http://videocelts.com/2017/01/blogs/the-beach-bhoys-of-dubai/
Macjay
Great to see Tommy Rogic flourishing at the club. he seems to have his feet on the ground. And unlike another Aussie who didn’t play for Celtic, pays his taxes.
BIG PEAT OF ISLAY ✝ HONEST MIBSTAKES on 11TH JANUARY 2017 12:49 AM
Absolutely agreed.
Its great news , particularly for my 22 yo boy and his Aussie ( Celtic sympathetic rather than Celtic supporting ) mates.
Many of the Sydney FC chants are ” borrowed ” from Timland.
We`re on a roll.
Macjay
I don’t do fitba here. Not so long after i arrived, the Bhoys came to Brisbane (2009): I sat in Lang Park and saw and smelt the noxious odour of the hun emanating from Brisbane Roar. So that was that.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 10TH JANUARY 2017 11:24 PM
NATKNOW on 10TH JANUARY 2017 10:58 PM
Your wife`s an Aussie ?
Tell her it`s a mild 38 in Sydney today.
Melbourne Mick and Summa will really be suffering at 42.
I fear some Guinness may well be swallied .
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Now she is an Aussie, butI don’t think I said she was my wife…? :-)))
Hails from near Mick – Geelong rather than Melbourne (apparently the distinction is significant!)
Big Peat –
I’d love to visit Brisbane at some point – never managed it on my only visit to Aus.
Have you ever spent any time in Coatbridge…? :-)))
NATKNOW on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:15 AM
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Aye, went to school there for 3 years but never lived there; always been a Glesga bhoy.
BIG PEAT OF ISLAY ✝ HONEST MIBSTAKES on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:20 AM
NATKNOW on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:15 AM
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Aye, went to school there for 3 years but never lived there; always been a Glesga bhoy.
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I’m gonna take a wild guess that your initials are SD? :-)
I really really really welcome walter smith’s comments today and couldn’t agree more with the turncoat rat hun. They should do all in their meagre power to spend as much as they can steal from their fand and charities to try to close the chasm between us and them. Walter has history in the big spend department and all the gullible hun idiots should unplug their ears and take on board what he’s saying. It makes perfect sense. Lead them to oblivion once more walter, you’ve done it once before. You are treacherous but the bigot mason loves you for it. Lead on Sir Walter of liquidation.
Yoo iz da man.
DD, look after your mammy.
Philbhoy, condolences on the loss of your brother in law. Moe will be missed by you all.
Natknow, FFS cut the cackling aboot yer BP, just reduce yer dram intake, chill oot and ye’ll be hunky dory. Stay well bruv.
HH Celtic men and wummin
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:40 AM
Natknow, FFS cut the cackling aboot yer BP, just reduce yer dram intake, chill oot and ye’ll be hunky dory. Stay well bruv.
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Haha!! When you back in The Burgh, fella? SMWS is calling….!
Happy NY Macjay, a wee bit late I know but I’ve not been on much due to other stuff. Theresa May is pretty hot these days, catchin up with big Anna. Hubba ding!!! Do you think she would give better heid than Maggie doll? (not to be confused with Maggie McGill BTW)
HH Bruv……:_)
Natknow, next sat bruv. Young acgr’s 21st so staying in the auld smokey toon. Could manage a wee sesh in the afternoon if your blood pressure is up to it. I cin bring you a puppy or a kitten to stroke if that helps.
Not sure what time the choo choo get in but when it does the size 22 will have her gyroscope set to shop mode. Mine can easily be set to dram:_)
You’ve got my number bruv. breve slowly……in oot in oot dram.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:53 AM
Natknow, next sat bruv. Young acgr’s 21st so staying in the auld smokey toon. Could manage a wee sesh in the afternoon if your blood pressure is up to it. I cin bring you a puppy or a kitten to stroke if that helps.
Not sure what time the choo choo get in but when it does the size 22 will have her gyroscope set to shop mode. Mine can easily be set to dram:_)
You’ve got my number bruv. breve slowly……in oot in oot dram.
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I do indeed. I have a prior appointment from 14:00 but may be able to manage something before then – will txt you…
Really looking forward to my next paradise fix, where TF is jobo when ye need a definitive countdown to kick off?
Feels like a long long time away since the Ross Co game.
Hoops come home……..please.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:49 AM
Happy NY Macjay, a wee bit late I know but I’ve not been on much due to other stuff. Theresa May is pretty hot these days, catchin up with big Anna. Hubba ding!!! Do you think she would give better heid than Maggie doll? (not to be confused with Maggie McGill BTW)
HH Bruv…
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As long as you keep yer eyes closed.
Mebbe.
:-)
Big Anna ?
NATKNOW on 11TH JANUARY 2017 1:14 AM
Not yer wife ?
Burger. That`s a mistake I don`t like to make.
Old assumptions die hard.
Macjay, I canny believe you need to ask who big Anna is.
Before you open this link, make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
Aye this link………..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabel_Goldie
What a stunning lady, she didny get my vote but she can park he slippers and night goon under ma hammock any time she likes.
Fran and Anna ?
Of Steak and Kidney Fame ?
Kournikova ?
You do realise that we`re missing the best comedian / actor in U.S. of A.
The big Obampot.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 11TH JANUARY 2017 2:27 AM
See what you mean about the tissues.
So,she was at the tech ( sic ) in`68.
I was at ” Strathkelvin ” then
I might have cracked on to her right enough.
At their equivalent of ” Daft Friday’
Fidel to Raul.
Bill to Hill.
Barak to Michelle.
Nepos nepotis.
Macjay, this is my third favourite chubby lady but could move quickly to No 2 id f Mrs ACGR disnay cut oot fartin in bed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabel_Goldie
Beautiful.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 11TH JANUARY 2017 2:52 AM
That`s when you know that the honeymoon is over.
:-0
Don`t really know Anna.
She has a sair fecht on her hands.
However , I can`t imagine that the majority of Jocks really want separation , so she MAY make some electoral progress.
Meanwhile , the political ba` is up on the slates.
Old certainties and alignments are now doubts and reassessments.
Yes their day, all my trebles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they’re here to pay
oh I believe in Yes their day
Suddenly, I’m not half the hun I used to be,
There’s a maddo hanging over me
Oh Craigie Whyte came suddenly
I guess I should thank Margaret Thatcher.
She is the main reason I left Scotland and the UK.
Like a million of us at the time.
Packed up and left.
I am glad I did.
I am wealthier, better educated and maybe even retire one day with a happy legacy.
I visit Scotland frequently.
Would I have made it there? NO. I dont think so.
Sometimes I think I dodged a bullet.
In retrospect Thatcher contributed nothing to the UK,
It was true then and true now. Nothing to be nostalgic about.
She was just a symbol of, and for the simpletons of the post war class conscious UK
with its continuous legacy of simpletons.
That can only take you so far like it did her.
IKEA Contents : Thousands of supporters
A Brass Neck
First insert some grovelling drivel about the love of Scottish Football into paragraph 1.
Remove the outer packaging blaming supply chain problems from paragraph 2 and screw into paragraph 3.
Unscrew paragraph 3 and insert dowelling passage about inserting rods up into paragraph 4.
(For the squeamish get your dad or a Phillips #1690)
Remove paragraph 4 from paragraph 5 using some wipes (not supplied) inserting paragraph 6 horizontally
and into the diagonal plane accompanied by never ending promises regarding investment in the club.
Continue screwing your supporters until paragraph 7 slides into the rear of paragraph 3.
You are now in a position to replace all the verbs in paragraph 1 with the packet of adjectives provided.(4)
Slot justification A and self serving explanation B into apology G.
Now take the brass neck attach and hold up apology G to the MSM and shout “weera peepil”.
Works every time.