That late winner by Matt O’Riley was the start of a great weekend for Celtic, as later, main challengers St Mirren could only manage a draw at Kilmarnock. The fact that this result is better than Celtic managed there in the League Cup is no comfort to the Paisley side’s title aspirations.
St Mirren are Celtic’s only real challengers this season, as the chasing pack slipped ever-further back. Saints are home to Newco next weekend, and if fortune goes our way, the visitors will get a new manager bounce, allowing Celtic to extend their lead at the top again. The top two meet at Celtic Park on 1 November in a game that will go a long way to deciding the title.
As alluded to above, yesterday the world’s most hilarious football club sacked manager Mick Beale after just 10 months in charge. The Beale episode is a morality tale worth exploring. A youth coach at Liverpool, Steve Gerrard took him to Ibrox in 2018. Gerrard, never considered an intellectual, won the league three years later, with Beale’s reputation in Glasgow soaring as a consequence – he was “the brains” behind the operation, apparently.
In 2021 the pair moved to Aston Villa, where they put the Midlands club through 11 months of poor results and were sacked. Beale spent 7 months out of work before being appointed manager at QPR. This is where it gets interesting.
QPR opened the season on fire, were top of the table, with Beale looking like a Premier League manager designate. The opportunity to manage in the topflight came sooner than expected, as struggling Wolves asked him to take over, but Beale rejected them. As the nights drew in, so did QPR’s season. They lost four games in five and Beale’s abilities were being laid bare.
At the same time, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was struggling at Ibrox. Just months after taking Newco to the Europa League Final, he had them in the Champions League group stage, but the demands of competing at that level exhausted his squad. They were losing heavily in Europe while slipping behind Celtic domestically.
With discontent at van Bronckhorst growing, Beale played his card, visiting Ibrox for a home game against Aberdeen. I listened to Radio Scotland that afternoon and his presence there took prominence. Newco fans wanted him, and his attendance was seen as a sign he was willing to come. van Bronckhorst was a dead man walking.
Fair play to Beale, with some sharp elbows, he got himself a multi-million-pound contract, money Newco can ill-afford but will still have to honour. He is the last type of person you would want associated with your club, but just about perfect for a rival.
Let’s talk strategy. Clubs have immediate demands: win the next game. and for some, win the league. Then they have long-term objectives: improve so we have a better chance of winning in future. Fans of all clubs overwhelmingly make immediate demands. Even when clubs know their short-term actions harm long-term objectives, fan demands can be so overwhelming they become irresistible.
That is horrible, destructive, but very common in football. Newco had an unbelievably good manager in van Bronckhorst. He took them to a Europa League Final, eliminated Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic on the way to winning the Scottish Cup, then took the club into the Champions League group stage for the first time.
Newco were not ready for it. How do you deal with losing 1-7 to Liverpool and still get your players full of confidence and pumped up for the weekend? These were questions they didn’t have answers for, because none of them had the necessary experience. Even clever Newco fans I know rationalised to themselves how van Bronckhorst’s football was bad, and change was necessary to prevent inevitable decline.
How ridiculous does that sound now? van Bronckhorst had earned the right to go through a bad patch and would have emerged a stronger manager with a better team. Instead, the Newco board succumbed to fan pressure – which remember, at all clubs is overwhelmingly focused on immediate satisfaction. Tempted by the fruit of another, they sacked the most successful manager they are every likely to have and appointed a great self-promoter.
I spoke to Peter Lawwell often during season 2020-21. It was clear from around October that Celtic were unlikely to win the league and that change was inevitable. Lawwell had to balance the immediate pressure of winning a very important league, with what was best for our future.
Everyone (including me) was telling the CEO the same thing: change had to happen and the sooner the better. Celtic took soundings. Without going into detail, midway through that season, no one worthy of the job would touch us with a barge pole. Neil Lennon had won five out of five domestic trophies and after his first elimination from a cup competition, a mob wanted him sacked. In those circumstances, only a loser wanting the pay cheque would come.
At the start of this season I gave Newco a 33% chance of winning the league. Celtic signed talented players in their early 20s, Newco signed players typically five years older, at their peak – and most of them physically taller and stronger. Again, they had a short-term strategy: win now and think nothing of the long-term.
It failed, but 33% still feels right for what we knew in the summer. Their alternative, to build a sustainable and successful team, would have had a lower chance of winning the title this season, but at least they would not have burned all that money on players who will do well to finish second.
Signings like Celtic’s, full of young talent that will improve, gives you a platform for the future and a chance of eventually competing at a higher level. Now, Newco are under Uefa supervision for overspending, making the strategy which won the league in 2021 no longer available. They are penniless and have a reputation for being forced to sack managers during their first rough patch.
They have yet to face the truth about where they are as a club. At board level, the backroom and technical staff, recruitment, sport science, commercials (oh the commercials!), football management and player squad, they are a million miles short of Celtic’s standard. We have departmental heads with more experience, business and football acumen than anyone at Ibrox, from the CEO down.
Every new season they will start with a puncher’s chance of winning the league. That is all they have: ‘Buy our tickets, we might get lucky!’ It will remain this way until some very ballsy CEO faces the immediate-gratification junkies and says “No!” I see no sign of this happening. Sisyphus FC are stuck in a fruitless struggle for another generation, at least!
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Franny Lee RIP
AN DÚN on 2ND OCTOBER 2023 4:18 PM
So European success isn’t that important after all
It’s a very parochial view from someone who talks so much about our failures in Europe
Considering that DAVIS and QUARK took over at Ipox this morning….DID they have a say on allowing the Hun players to have a day out at the Races Today ?
IF it was permitted under BEALES watch BEFORE he was sacked………..I doubt many Hun fans will be happy that thieir CHUMP Players are out enjoying themselves at the Races ?
IF the day at the Races was planned/arranged BEFORE yesterday, it may have been better for those Hun players to CANCEL after Saturdays result and the sacking of BEALE….I cant imagine many Hun fans being happy with with the Hun players AND Management team allowing this ill timed day out to go ahead ?
HH
FRANNY LEE…R.I.P.
A very good player for MAN CITY back in the day. I used to enjoy watching Franny on TV.
He had a bit of a BOXING Match with that DUD THUG…NORMAN HUNTER after a game between Man City and Leeds.
Wee Franny WON that bout in my opinion.
LOL
HH
The hun looks across the city and sees practically everything they want to have.
Some bad results and the support, still suffering from PTSD after their beloved first club died, once again go into panic aggressive mode. They are a different animal from the common or garden bigot of my youth, that’s for sure.
Another manager is chased.
That club is run from the Onion bears section down.
BIGSHUGGY on 2ND OCTOBER 2023 2:24 PM
Melvin Udall you omitted the new favorite for Sevco job French youth cosch Hugh Jarsole!
————
😂😂😂👍
great article p67
Beale Ball (ox)
Alfredo Morelos in Santos rage as former Rangers star reaches boiling point during triple red card rammy
The Colombian was never shy of a fracas or two during his time at Rangers.
Morelos led the CHARGE….
………………..
I have just watched the video of this wee melee, and YET AGAIN a Daily Record jouno is stating LIES about Morelos.
MORELOS ran about 5 yards onto the Pitch from the Subs bench, but when CONFRONTED by an opposition player, Morelos quickly BACKS OFF and has no further involvement as a few handbags are being flung around.
Morelos did NOT ” LEAD THE CHARGE”
Morelos was ALWAYS a COWARD.
HH
Another piece of complete drivel from Tom English on the BBC website, why do they employ a guy who knows nothing about football.
So the answer to the Huns multiple problems is a Walter like figure ; the game has moved on from then on and off the pitch ; FFP has got them by the short and curlys and has essentially got them to exactly where they are today , crap manager now sacked , journeyman transfers in , bummed up by the Scottish press.
Contrary to some opinion, I believe they will need to build an extension to the Hun treatment room …
I now expect the Hun back 4 to implode 1 game in 3 , they will have a pattern good game , hard fought draw , gubbing and spiral downwards
HH
I’m sure Moderator will ban me for life, but I do like CJ NOVO 992 podcasts. OK, he’s a Rangers fan , but, in my opinion he’s balanced and not a hun
KINGLuBO
I think they will win at st mirren, i think it is called the NAE MANAGER bounce
In the maelstrom of the sevco circus, we must keep an eye on our own play.
There’s a lot to unpack with all the recents events, but I will indulge with a wee moan.
Despite the clown show that they are, have been and will become….how come they always find a(nother) good goalie and we can’t FFS.
Just saying.
Texastim
Boric, Forster, Hart – not too bad
Gene – agree on all three, hence my “nother” add.
I really thought Siegrist was the answer and don’t really understand what has gone wrong there.
Craig Gordon was a good goalie, and a great piece of business.
Have hins found a good goalie?
Who dat?
The current 1 is pash.
D :)
Huns
Steven Davis: Rangers interim boss wants to ‘get some pride back’
Sisyphus at it again
Warnock unexpectedly chucked his last job a couple of weeks after Beatles coat was on a very shoo fly peg. Warnock more than once has spoken of his admiration for der hun and the hordes. He’d have been in the stands at Beales next home game but Beales demise has come quicker due to the Dons result. I think Warnock is a shoe in. His experience of getting his teams to win ugly is right up their street.
Also the fact Warnock isn’t tied into a contract means no compensation will have to be paid
(No auto correct this time)
Young Ben Siegrist is 31 years young, and been round the block a fair bit. Signed as back up from Dundee Utd after after he played 121 games for the Tannadice outfit.
Previously signed by Aston Villa in 2009 though never made his debut, then spells at Burton Albion, Cambridge, Solihull Motors, Wycombe Wanderers, then Dundee Utd.
Myth CSC
100th post of this article
Standing ovation for everyone
😉
Only yesterday I watched Match of the Day highlights on YouTube of Man City v Man Utd crom the early 70s.
United featured Stepney, Law, Best, Charlton, Morgan and Kidd.
City stars were Corrigan, Donnachie, Summerbee, Bell and of course Franny Lee.
A packed Maine Road watched a thrilling 3-3 draw and some tremendous football. Lee scored twice and was Man of the Match.
He didn’t look like a footballer, being short and stocky, but he had some engine and never stopped running.
What a player he was.
RIP Franny Lee
TV Tea time Sports Headlines.,,,,,,,,,
Rrrrrrraaaaaaaiiiiiijnnnnnnjjjjjjjuuuuuurrrrzzzzzz begin the search for their new manager
💤 💤 CSC
10 months after the started the last one
Simon Jordan on his conversation with Souness after he turned down an ambassador role
“He would wake them up. I’ve spoken to him about the situation and the conversations he had with Rangers, with the people involved their and their outlook on the world. I don’t think he was particularly enamoured, not just with the fact it would have been a slightly watered down ambassadorial role, but it was their way of operating and the things they think are important. I don’t think he was hugely impressed.”
Thank you AIPPLE for the fixtures list at the beginning of the blog…great article Paul ,
European nights are all about finding the composure in front of goal. Liam Miller had that in spades, what a great player the Cork man was.
One thing the new manager is sticking to post Ange is playing three up front, he might change that, having looked at the way Lazio play. Different Horses ( Shine on Brendan ) for Different Courses.
RIP Frank McDougall. He once put four by us but I think he was a Tim at heart.
Celtic v Man City friendly
Both teams attack and entertain and although Fallon in Celtic’s goal has a fine game, it is City keeper Joe Corrigan who is the best man afield with a string of great saves from the Celtic forwards.
City boasted their legendary forward trio of Bell, Lee and Summerbee although they sat in and defended for the majority of the game.
In the latter stages Celtic pressed for a winner and Lennox had a goal disallowed for hand ball before Corrigan saved from a Wallace shot then Towers blocked the rebound again by Wallace.
Manchester City were one of Europe’s top clubs at this time and the Celtic crowd gave their team a fine ovation at the end as they realised Celtic should have won.
Crowd 62,000
0-0 final score
Hampden
Teams
Celtic:
Fallon, Craig, Gemmell, Hay, Connelly, Brogan, Johnstone, Hood, Murdoch, Lennox, Hughes. Substitutes: Williams, Wallace, Auld
Manchester City:-
Corrigan, Book (Mann), Pardon, Doyle (Towers), Booth, Heslop, Oakes, Bell, Summerbee, Lee, Hill
MELVIN UDALL on 2ND OCTOBER 2023 2:10 PM
Here’s the link to watch it again…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/66979323
Thanks for that. I did laugh…..then felt a wee bit bad for having done so…..but I am still smiling now :-))
1977: Red and Yellow Cards are introduced.
Used against a Sevco player at Ibrox for the first time this weekend.
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/6c187a0dfcaf7541e6d4249f57ed0629
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.67hailhail.com%2Fstatic%2Fuploads%2F18%2F2020%2F10%2FGettyImages-1627230-scaled.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=fefe894e514f87c9a6a9e162a08505cd56977bcf1702d9953678c1a555191738&ipo=images
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ficdn.thecelticstar.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2Fmark-mcghee-frank-mcavennie-mcneil-and-roy-aitken-all-of-celtic.jpeg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=a4cfe9aa1ccbad025bf6213262a5d866bf531cfc0aa60651a433f1d1b10b701c&ipo=images
1987: Celtic sign striker Frank McAvennie from West Ham United for a reported £1.2m.
SCULLYBHOY on 2ND OCTOBER 2023 6:37 PM
1977: Red and Yellow Cards are introduced.
Used against a Sevco player at Ibrox for the first time this weekend.
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wait till they invent “the penalty”
goalkeepers is it ……………….
the last 20 years have been exceptionally good.
i still believe letting gordon go cost us the ten more than any other single decision.
he stayed we would have been better.
It can’t be long till that garrulous staunch nugget Brown is paraded
as Heid o’ Korporate Kommunikations………
Who can forget the Gabby Johnsonesque…………call to arms………..
“Yoozbyrapies!”
:)
HHH.
bankiebhoy1
John Brown was abolished a couple of days back by the stadium he used to play for.
A great view of Matt’s goal from the Celts end.
https://youtu.be/N0D6Mc4dNN0?si=XALqotz5KwRuK8a4