You seldom hear football people speak as unguardedly as Peter Grant did to The Herald yesterday about Scott Brown. “If somebody had offered us £4m (in 2010)? I would have driven him down the road myself”. The tone of Peter’s piece was supportive, though. Our former assistant manager affirms Scott is a vastly improved performer since. I agree.
You never really know what is going on inside a squad. Footballers play with injuries, many find the distractions of wealth all-consuming and some are simply deployed incorrectly. At the #19 game last week I recalled the form of Stiliyan Petrov under John Barnes, he was lost, especially when playing right back. Bobby Petta also looked out of sorts under Barnes but within weeks of playing for Martin O’Neill both were among the most valuable assets at the club.
Neil Lennon told us last week that Scott Brown was unfit during last season’s Champions League campaign. It’s clear that he is an incredibly more effective player when fit, but Peter Grant suggests Brown has also learned positional discipline, a subject he has previously been criticised here for.
A lot of Scott’s contribution is off the ball. He closes space, filling the park with a presence, which is defensively important, especially on Champions League duty. I’ve never seen Celtic’s yardage stats on players but you have to think he’ll top the list most weeks, he is the Great Scottish Runner, but all that energy needed to be harnessed correctly, which is perhaps what Scott is learning from former midfielder, Neil Lennon.
The next achievement to look out for from Scott is a marquee performance on a European stage………
Which leads us onto the Great Scottish Run. You can still sign up for the run, and if you’ve registered already, or are still to register, you can participate in the 1254125 campaign.
The heart and soul of our community is something we cannot take for granted. It has flourished because you, and countless thousands before you, have decided to improve the lives of those around you by getting involved in the name of Celtic.
On Sunday 6 October there is a 10k and Half Marathon. If that is beyond you. There are family events taking place the day before.
The first thing you need to do is sign up for the Great Scottish Run, or here for one of the family events.
Once you’ve done that, you can register for the 1254125 campaign here.
Then you can create a donations page here. Click Start Fundraising, search for Celtic Charity, setup your My Donate account).
Email me and let me know if you are having trouble signing up or need any more help, celticquicknews@gmail.com.
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Marrakesh Express
09:34 on 18 September, 2013
Steviebhoy66
That was a lovely story about Lubo.
………………………………………………………………..
..imo it was more a story about DrJoe.. the man who brought us Lubo the magician!!
I think I’ve found somewhere to go on my next holiday. It is sure to be on the FF banned list.
A beach for Tims?
Great place in the summer is Timmendorf. My wife used to work there.
:-)
Gerry
Anyone got a link to the photo of Lubo walking into Celtic Park for Stan’s game, carrying a poly bag? Looked as if he had just nipped out for the rolls and a pint of milk.
SammiOnTheLeftCSC
Phil macs latest
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/a-cunning-plan/
A cunning plan?
Posted by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
In the military they say that a bad plan is better than no plan.
The inhabitants of Planet Fitba know that Jim McColl, Paul Murray and their mates want to take over the Ibrox outfit.
However, what is the New Knights plan?
Clearly they want control of the “club”, but I don’t see how they can achieve that quickly or easily.
So what are their options?
Well they could simply buy out the current incumbents, meet the asking price and buy a controlling share in Rangers International Football Club (RIFC).
It is RIFC that was floated onto the Stock Exchange last year and it is the publicly listed company that wholly owns The Rangers Football Club (TRFC) formerly known as Sevco Scotland Limited.
However, buying out the current regime would be very expensive and even if they did that then they would have to re-capitalise the business.
Of course, regular readers here will not gasp in amazement that the new Ibrox entity is in a cash flow crisis.
It is now, after months of it being crushingly obvious, permissable to discuss such issues in the mainstream.
It would appear that the orderly queue for succulent lamb and Just So press releases has remained largely intact from the days of Rangers (1872-2012).
The current residents of the boardroom, it would appear, hold all the aces.
I really don’t see how they can lose now that they are in control.
They could sell up-at a considerable profit-to the New Knights, but only if these chivalrous chaps came up with the cash.
Given the cash flow crisis the current Sevco overlords could trigger an insolvency event.
However, they would have to make sure that they controlled the debt (there are ways of doing this and these guys are experts at this stuff) then do a share dilution via a debt for equity swap.
This would give them total unchallengeable control and then the way would be open to have another IPO.
The dilemma for fans would be quite simple.
If they didn’t take part in IPO No2 then the “club” would perish.
To watch one Ibrox club die is unfortunate, to let another expire is rather careless.
The third option for the current chaps in charge would be to sell all of their shareholdings to the Easdale family when Stock market rules allow.
The Greenock based businessmen are genuine rangers men and have made a success of their numerous enterprises.
The Easdales are, perhaps, the only viable future for this new incarnation of Rangers.
There is much in the personal histories of these successful blues brothers for the ordinary fan to connect with.
There is no need for James and Sandy to gush about ‘Rangersitis’ to use the vernacular the Easdales are real Bears. I think that a lot of the fans would emotionally connect with these guys.
Unlike the New Knights they have actually invested money into the club.
Were they to gain control then there is no doubt that they would be able to run a tight ship.
The Easdales are sharp operators and would slash costs.
The New Knights have only one real option and that is to make an asset purchase in liquidation.
Their only chance is to purchase the assets, crucially the stadium and the Albion Car Park, via an insolvency event that the likes of Mr Mather and Mr Stockbridge would not be in control of and that means a liquidation sale.
I have noticed that for all of the fluffy press coverage that Paul Murray received last week no real plan was laid out.
Frankly the ex -Rangers director doesn’t have the cash to play at this poker table and McColl won’t deal in.
As the New Knights work to this plan they do need the media onside to undermine confidence in the current regime.
These fine chaps on horseback also need the SFA in their corner.
The people in charge of the game proved last year that they can get away with transferring a membership from one club to another while pretending it is the same club.
Chapeau!
For the Ibrox brand to continue to have totemic power for The People then they have to believe.
The belief by the fans in the transferability of the history and, of course, the dignity of Rangers is vital to the New Knights cunning plan.
If The People truly have bought the club/company dichotomy then then can have another company to run the club next year.
McColl is no sugar daddy and Murray has no real cash and recently he was outbid in a charity auction for a signed Cristiano Ronaldo shirt.
Dave King has just had to give millions to the South African tax authorities so perhaps he isn’t in a sugar daddy frame of mind at the moment.
Moreover, anyone who bought out the current owners would have to bank roll the operation by about £6 million per year minimum.
That is just to keep the lights on while the costs are driven down.
FC Ibrox could be run at a profit, but what has to be managed is the expectations gap of the customer base after the Murray years.
Arguably there was an opportunity to do that when the good ship Sevco set sail last year in the 4th tier of Scottish football.
Quite simply the cost base is too high at present.
There is an opportunity to emulate Celtic, but of course at a much lower level.
Sevco could identify good youngsters and then sell them onto the lower English leagues and make a profit from player trading.
It isn’t easy, but it is possible.
The change in fortunes from David Murray to Paul Murray is stunning, from financial doping to financial disaster.
From watching the Champions League to fretting about the Ramsden’s Challenge Cup.
From wealth off the radar to not being on Neil Lennon’s radar.
One half of Glasgow is enjoying life while listening to Zadok the Priest while, the other seethes with rage and obsesses about Priests.
These are the good old days.
Despite the grieving of the hacks there is now no Old Firm and it isn’t coming back.
What the Fitba Fourth estate should be focussing on now is how this grisly collection of body parts of the expired Rangers was allowed into Scottish football last summer.
They won’t do that as they are too busy being part of a PR offensive against the current regime in the Blue Room.
When all the puff pieces are cleared away the New Knights have no plan other than making a move for the assets during a liquidation.
For that to succeed they need the…err…assistance of the SFA.
There may well be other bidders for the assets in a liquidation sale and the decision of the SFA would be vital for chaps on horseback to succeed.
If you can transfer a membership once you can do it for a second time.
It requires someone at Hampden to be, ahem, presidential about it all.
So far the only play from the New Knights has been to demand an EGM and then back down.
The New Knights really could do with a fan boycott similar to the ‘Celts for Change’ movement to starve the current regime into an insolvency event that they had not planned for.
One problem there is that their main financial clout as fans is shot for now as the Season Tickets have been bought.
If there was a major boycott then match day revenues and merchandising could be hit, but the main tranche of fan’s cash has been banked already.
Subsequently, the chaps in the current regime are behaving like they are in total control.
They are.
They’ve got a plan.
You can’t clean rust – you’re bang out of order with that post last night.
It’s one thing trying to find out who a certain cqn poster might be, but putting up info that might relate to them is outrageous!
I’m sure you wouldn’t like it done to you…
T4
tallybhoy
16:58 on 17 September, 2013
BMCUW
Howdy buddy.
Will not be able to make the Maharani night on the 23rd as you know.
Just as well – the place will be shut!
Essential repairs I believe.
Bon appetit!
HH!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right-who tipped them off?
I just thought they were busy when I couldnae get a reply!
Plan B-lotsa beer-looks likely now.
Thanks for the info,bud.
Btw,TALLYBHOY-you could have mailed me that,ya sod! Wouldn’t have been as amusing though….
gerrybhoy
09:45 on 18 September, 2013
———————————————
Got to be honest I hadn’t heard of it before, only came across it 5 minutes ago. My son has started studying in Zealand in Denmark so I think I’ll break the journey up by staying there when we go to visit him.
Can you or your wife recommend any particular hotels?
I think it was the 5-1 game that on the bus going to the match they had the radio on. The dead team had a couple of European matches coming up and they were waxing lyrical about the quality and depth of squad. One player said this was what it was all about playing big games one after the other.
On the way back it was suddenly a disgrace that rangers should have to play against Celtic before being gubbed in Europe..
twists n turns
08:15 on 18 September, 2013http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52EPhY8xYucMoravcic – a gift from God.The documentary.Warning – watch it only when you have time…it is 90 minutes long!
Ah well that killed 90 mins, wee Lubo is a gem of a man and we were truly privileged to have him wear the most famous jersey in football.
HH
SoT
Buongiorno!
Conte raging?
He was mild compared to me – cost me a £500 acca!
Was travelling to Eastern Europe by bus this year, and got talking to the driver at one of the stops. He asked me where I am from: “Scotland – and you?” Him: “Czechoslovakia, but I left for France a long time ago.” I guessed by the way he said it, that he was Slovak, so pressed him a bit more, as he had mentioned a football team (Sedan) using his bus before, and he said he was from Bratislava. I explained that the former Slovak captain used to play for my team, ‘Celtic Glasgow’. Instantly, he replied: “Lubosh??” (how he pronounced it). I smiled, and said yes, and the look on his face told me he considered the wee man a special player. He told me that he knew Moravcik’s family well, and that his own father had played for (i think) Slovan Bratislava as a goalkeeper, and Josef Venglos was his centre half.
Small world.
BMCUW
Morning.
I was only joking about the Maharani btw!
Completely made-up!
Apologies!
HH!!
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
09:42 on 18 September, 2013
I think I’ve found somewhere to go on my next holiday. It is sure to be on the FF banned list.
A beach for Tims?
………………………………………………………………………
…take it you won’t be eating in the first recommended restaurant!!
ACGR, a we story for you mate regarding the ring tone.
Watch the man u game in the pub, and was waiting to see all the nights goals at ten, when some zombie asked for the tv to be switched to alba as ” the big game is coming on” . It seems as though they were showing a delayed transmission of the whole game.
Anyway as the teams were running out , off goes my wee samsung at full volume and ZADOC blares out, one of the
Walking dead pipes up answer yer f’n phone, at which my wee mate pipes up with….
Its the only f’n time you lot will get to run out to that choon, and a few more wee sweary words as well.
Thanks again for the tone mucker it annoys the life out of them.
P.s can you annoy the life out of a zombie?
Reading back I see some people touting Sammi for first goal,anyone wanting a bet will get 16 to 1 in Ladbrokes shops,not sure if price is same on line
yorkbhoy
09:56 on 18 September, 2013
I think it was the 5-1 game that on the bus going to the match they had the radio on. The dead team had a couple of European matches coming up and they were waxing lyrical about the quality and depth of squad. One player said this was what it was all about playing big games one after the other.
On the way back it was suddenly a disgrace that rangers should have to play against Celtic before being gubbed in Europe..
………………………..
Listened to an hour of this pish on my car radio on way to the game with Burley the biggest detractor then on way home the pathetic back-peddling was music to my ears. Best BBC hour in my life by a long way.
Would love to get the before and after tapes.
Last comment regarding sevco today.
If the corruption is rife now to help them think what it will be like when they are back at the top and needing champions league revenue.#honestmistakes
desertbhoy
10:03 on 18 September, 2013
——————————————
Yes, I clocked that almost immediately and decided to say nothing ;-)
Is reaching the semi finals of the Ramsdens Cup the greatest managerial achievement of Greggs best customer? Let’s hope he stays on rather than bowing out at the top …
Free bet for Hills in the Record today.
Zombie next to me at work was waving it in my face.
I said what you going for? He said I wouldn’t even bet on your game.
Took the free bet off him. Going for 3-2 for the Hoops and Commons FGS.
LB
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon…….
after all the steakbakes ahm doubtful he could achieve a bow!!
From Joomamasnuts
9/11 Witness Meets Obama http://t.co/5sGFqAN6HI via @WakeUp__America
desertbhoy
08:28 on 18 September, 2013
You get roon that course in one piece, no porridge yet, got held up with A gift from God. Ah well days off…
HH
gerrybhoy
09:45 on 18 September, 2013
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Got to be honest I hadn’t heard of it before, only came across it 5 minutes ago. My son has started studying in Zealan, in Denmark so I think I’ll break the journey up by staying there when we go to visit him.
Can you or your wife recommend any particular hotels?
I just sent her an email asking the question. She’s at work, so I’ll let you know if she has any current recommendations. Its been a long time since she worked at one of the hotels up there but she may have an idea.
HH
Gerry
going to sound stupid here (aye I know) but can someone enlighten me regarding the significance/fuss on this zadoc the priest?
masty,
Zadoc is the Champions League theme tune
Masty – Champions League toon !
T4
MickTT
10:16 on 18 September, 2013
desertbhoy
08:28 on 18 September, 2013
You get roon that course in one piece, no porridge yet, got held up with A gift from God. Ah well days off…
HH
…………………………………………………………………………………….
a gift from God, eh!!
Assume the big man told you it was 3 points fur us tonite… or the wife was also not at work this morning!!
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
http://www.seeschloesschen.de/
She worked at this place. Looks nice. Not sure about prices though :-)
Gerry
That was some tanking Galatasary took at home last night and they have greater resources than us. Don’t want to tempt fate, but its a credit to the various Hoops teams that we never got a real doing in the CL. Unlike a certain died club….Juve home & away!
What were worst/best scores in the ole European Cup?!
T4
desertbhoy
10:21 on 18 September, 2013MickTT10:16 on 18 September, 2013desertbhoy08:28 on 18 September, 2013You get roon that course in one piece, no porridge yet, got held up with A gift from God. Ah well days off…HH…………………………………………………………………………………….a gift from God, eh!!Assume the big man told you it was 3 points fur us tonite… or the wife was also not at work this morning!!
Twist and Turns posted a link to the Lubo story Gift from God, that other gift from god went to her work at eight, what’s a man to do… watch Lubo…
My day is my own…. with the boozer on the Horizon at six.
Well as long as I’ve made the dinner, dusted, hoovered etc…!
HH
DOOOH!,
suppose I should have googled and listened eh?….I have it already without knowing its name.
stupidmasty…csc..
gerrybhoy
10:23 on 18 September, 2013
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Thanks mate. The wife wants us to do one of these Spa things, apparently I need it :-). So I’ll look into the old Seeschloesschen and maybe combine it with a Christmas visit.
Luxcelt
Nice story about the bus driver.
There is an interesting link with Slovan Bratislava.
That is the team that Joe Venglos played most of his football with before his career was cut short with Hepatitis.
At the same time that Dr Joe played there, Slovan Bratislava also had a player called Anton Moravcik who was a Czech International.
Now I know that Moravcik is a fairly common name in Slovakia and that Lubo’s father was called Jan Moravcik– but I am trying to find out if there is a family connection.
Anton Moravcik also played for Dukla at one point, and played in the same International team as the great Josef Masopust ( Moravcik was an attacking midfielder and gained 25 caps scoring 10 goals ).
Now, somewhere in my dark and distant memory there is a connection between Anton Moravcik, Joe Venglos and Celtic Park.
Beyond Anton Moravcik and Venglos playing together at Bratislava, something somewhere tells me that Venglos or Moravcik was due to play at Celtic Park in the 60’s but didn’t due to injury.
I came across that in the course of doing some research for Willie Wallace’s book and I meant to go back to it but never did.
Anyway, to other matters:
AC Milan have won 5 of their last 18 Champions League games at home.
Therefore the odds of 6/1 for a Celtic win and 3/1 the draw are worth considering.
Masty
I’m asking Janice to get it on the jukebox.
just listened to it dismay sound anything like the CL theme to me…has it been adapted from zadoc?