I’ve been to a few non-Celtic games over the years and always found is striking the different reaction mid-table teams have to a defeat compared to how we react. There is simply not the expectation that every game has to be won. For most of the last 40-odd years Celtic have been nip-and-tuck with a direct opponent at the top of the league, so a single defeat can have a significant bearing on league title prospects.
Even when we were not involved in a close league race, the desire to win by an astonishing number of points provided an edge, whereas, back in the 90s, the chasm between Celtic and the top was made increasingly unbearable by each passing defeat.
This season is different. We’ve dropped 10 points in 10 games but substantial evidence exists that the team is making solid progress, a fact not disputed by the support, even as they left Celtic Park on Saturday. For most, the distress of defeat has tempered.
We’re two points ahead of three teams at the top of the league, with a game in hand, which makes this the most competitive SPL ever. The gap between second and second last is just six points, St Mirren who sit second bottom, would be level on points with joint-second St Johnstone had they won the game between these two earlier this month.
All this honest competition has resulted in a rise in average attendances for most clubs during “Armageddon”. It’s too easy to poke fun at the miscalculations of the SPL and SFA chief executives who believed the game needed a fatally flawed giant in the top flight. Instead, what it needed was genuine competition, which we have, to a degree.
Hibs, Aberdeen and St Johnstone are all two points from the top of the table while Inverness and Killie are only one win below them. Can you imagine how good a league this would be without the last remaining over-sized behemoth?
The SPL didn’t need Rangers, in fact, it is a better, more competitive league without them. The same goes for Celtic. We are not good for the league and do nothing for Aberdeen, United, Hibs or clubs who want nothing but a sporting chance in the game. Many of these clubs seem to have Stockholm Syndrome; locked into the belief that they need to be with their tormentors.
If I was writing a blog about any of these clubs I’d tell Celtic to go find themselves some fantasy football league and let the rest of the country get back to a proper sporting endeavour. They have nothing to lose but their loser labels.
The next issue of CQN Magazine is due out shortly, let me know if you would like to advertise, advert@cqnmagazine.co.uk.
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I’ve met
Shiedmuir Celt, old Tim, malorbhoy (unfortunately)’ Eldiagobhoy, hebcelt, and they are all the better for it……….LLLOOOLLL
wdh
powercuts?
…no knowledge of power cuts, put a fiver in the metre
I attend the same optician as Willie Collum should be attending.
Going mad online – the ftt must be “in a mint”.
I see the Record are realigning their allegiances and ole Minty is being hung out to dry. No good to them now, but Charlie is still good copy.
Absolutely loving it all.
I once bought a couple of track suits from Mo “petite merde ” Johnston
New article posted.
The rise and fall of Barry brilliant.
Well Done Graham Spiers
on going public about the underclass at ipox and their threats & intimidation, A litte late but well done anyway another crack in the dam.
:)
In the early 70’s we had what must have been one of the smallest CSC’s going (Prestwick)
We decided to have an end of season bash and invited a few players down for it.
8 players turned up for our evenings celebrations, nearly more than we had members -)
trythatnowCSC.
If said teacher at my old school posts or lurks on the blog I’ll just cover myself and say Miami Vice was on the telly round about that time ;)
I come from the same planet as every player who ever kicked a ball for Glasgow Celtic FC, which is obviously a different planet from every hun, zombie and sevconian.
I also bought a car from Raymaond Mcstay when he worked for Phoenix Honda and one of the Lisbon Lions used to work for me.
You can tell that it’s a slack day at work today ;-)
I played on the school team with Tommy Burns
at St Marys when I was ten.
Does that count?
T
Hearts: SPL without Celtic would see crowds increase
Comments (18)
Hearts manager John McGlynn believes Scottish Premier League crowds would rise in a top flight without Celtic.
McGlynn said clubs would have a greater chance of winning the championship.
He added: “How many fans would think they would win the league if Celtic were not in it at this stage of the season?
“They would all fancy their chances of winning. We would all fill our stadiums if we all thought we could win the league.”
The Edinburgh club face serious financial challenges and have been late in paying wages at Tynecastle on numerous occasions.
And the club are also disputing a £1.75m tax bill.
McGlynn thinks a top flight without leaders Celtic, who have previously explored joining the English Premier League and a European ‘Atlantic League’, “would cause great excitement”.
“I think it would bring fans back to the game,” he added.
The Hearts boss, admitting that the situation was hypothetical, said the health of the top flight without Celtic would hinge on continued TV coverage of the SPL.
“At the minute it’s exciting because from week to week someone else is second in the league,” McGlynn continued.
“I think crowds would come back if everyone thought they had a realistic chance of winning the league.”
philvis returns.
Jimmy Savile .
The Berlusconi owned media like the Savile stuff . Lots of opportunity for good ole whataboutery and look at those Anglo Saxons stuff .
I was astounded of forehead to hear a spokeswoman for Stoke Mandeville hospital declaring that the Hospital had not received any complaints in respect of Sir Jimmy ” having inappropriately interacted with corpses “
needtobuyaspellcheckercsc :-((
Statement On Tax Tribunal
Written by Rangers Football Club
THERE has been growing speculation recently that an announcement from the First Tier Tax tribunal is imminent.
The Club has no knowledge of when such an announcement will be made. However, the Club as it now stands as part of The Rangers Football Club Ltd. has been informed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs that any decision by the First Tier Tax Tribunal will not affect the operations of The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
This tax liability which is under consideration by the Tribunal is historic and was a matter for The Rangers Football Club plc (‘oldco’) which is in administration and will be subject to liquidation in due course.
The Rangers Football Club Ltd. is a corporate entity formed following the acquisition in June this year by a consortium led by Charles Green of the business and assets of Rangers, including the Club and its honours.
Unpaid tax liabilities led to the demise of ‘oldco’ and the EBT arrangements were part of ‘oldco’s’ liabilities. As HMRC stated in June when they decided to vote against the proposed oldco CVA, no tax liabilities relating to ‘oldco’ would transfer across to the new company. HMRC have recently reaffirmed this position to the Club’s tax advisers, Deloitte.
The Rangers Football Club Ltd. is a company free of external debt and all liabilities relating to ‘oldco’ are a matter for the administrators.
The impending decision of the First Tier Tax Tribunal once again calls into question the validity of the SPL Commission into the use of EBTs. They are clearly a matter for the old company and The Rangers Football Club is trying to rebuild as a great sporting institution
Harry Hoods dog once bit me HH!
BT
we were down for most of yesterday and again last night
cable thieves blew the substation beseide St Brides
In 10th place: South of Tunis ( multiple efforts).
9th
Doctor Whatfor who actually worked with a Celtic player.
SOAL @ 14.40
I presume that was before he burnt the shop down! Allegedly.
Dalglish’s old man gave me a lift-over at CP around 68-69. My mate’s da’s mate.
8th
CeltbridgeCelt who interviewed the Captain of the European Cup Winners…Big Billy
jimbo67
14:12 on 30 October, 2012
Afternoon all
I sat beside Stevie Chalmers son, Stephen, in P4 at St Matthews’ Bishopbriggs
H x 2
———————————————————–
I’m a fellow St Matthew’s boy. Stevie Chalmers’ grandson also attended – a couple of years below me. Joe McBride’s grandsons were 2 or 3 years below me as well.
7th
JaseBhoy ….who realised the dream and PLAYED for Celtic (albeit a charity game).
Jaysus Jungle Jim this is worse then waiting for the FTTT report.
I went to school with Ronnie Glavin.
I used to do the readings at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Dennistoun with Dennis McQuade.
I used to see Graham Sowerness in Champney’s of an evening.
How am I doing/
I collected Jinkys mother in laws insurance every Saturday. And she dragged him out of bed to shake hands with me when he came back from Lisbon.
6th
CorkCelt…..who shook the hand of one of the real Celtic Legends: Charles Patrick Tully
In 1974 I got lift back to East Kilbride in John Fallon’s car after our primary school team (St.Hillary’s) had played against the team he was coaching (St.Blanes) from either Blantyre or Uddingston.
10 min to go and dancing in STEVE CHALMERS garden just leads TOBAGO STREET playing in school team with TOMMY BURNS by a short nut.owning up to sitting on a bus beside VIC DAVIDSON is a red card offence.
Acting inappropriately with corpses? You’d have to be a zombie to understand the gravity of that mouthful.
Ive got the same initials as Jim Kennedy
I just handed him the ball Jim but thanks for putting me on the list anyway.
THE EXILED TIM
Quite simple then, drop the history and the SPL can drop the Commission.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!
14:52 on 30 October, 2012
I went to school with Ronnie Glavin.
I used to do the readings at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Dennistoun with Dennis McQuade.
I used to see Graham Sowerness in Champney’s of an evening.
How am I doing/
————————————–
Dennis McQuade? Love his films – Inner Space is a classic. Oh wait….
The Rangers Football Club Ltd. is a company free of external debt !!!!
WTF is external debt ????
I played for Dumbarton reserves against Hearts and Denis McQuade scored the only goal of the game.
I have a link to philbhoy