It appears that the so-called spivs are once again the only people likely to put their hands in their pockets to fund the coming season’s shortfall at Newco Rangers. There has been a campaign for much of this year to drive the club into the gutter, although on this occasion no one has accused Celtic fans, the SFA, HMRC or various imaginary enemies of acting in an underhand manner. These moves were all the work of formerly loyal Rangers men, who wanted ownership of Newco on the cheap, or some kind of influence thereafter.
The ‘spivs’ have not been intimidated or been blackmailed into handing over the club to hostile forces. Instead they are prepared to invest again, stay the course and see a return on their money.
‘Spivs’ is an unnecessarily pejorative term but if money comes in from the variety of hedge funds and offshore entities it will not be a gift. Neither was the initial investment of £5.5m, or the subsequent monies raised at the IPO.
It’s too late to complain about who owns the club, or that a collection on wealthy fans could have bought the assets of Rangers on the cheap when Charles Green stepped in. Campaigns to undermine the club will not bring about a dramatic change, they will only weaken an already painfully weak entity.
Two years ago someone inside the game told me ‘the Rangers you know are dead, whether they phoenix or not.’ The outfit which exists now will forever be a bit-part player, which even Dave King recognises is an untenable commercial proposition.
Remember, Tommy Gemmell, Bertie Auld and John Hughes will be signing copies of their books at the Celtic Store in Argyle St from 1pm until 4pm on Saturday. Take a camera.
And before that, Bertie Auld will be live on CQN from 1pm this Friday. Expect anecdote overload.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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Igc
Don’t encourage me!!
Harold Battenburger… risky!!
beatbhoy
Having watched the Brazil team in 1970, there is no doubt that the current Brazil team are different in their approach.
The European influence on Brazilian football has not been good, they now basically play a European style of football…..which I personally am not a fan of.
Give me Pele, Rivelino in place of Naymar & co anyday.
Im looking forward to seeing wee Messi light up the WC…..The boy is a genius.
HH
Livibhoy:
The guy on the left could promote the Auld Hoops club.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQukQl2tei7OcywcGo-oRwLAlj-ZQh6YPfIGKWdAOApH1ZiVawnGg
Paul LAMBert
Neil Lemon
Lou Macaroni
Joe McBridie
And of course, the old favourite for desert:
Brian Eclair
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
Surely Fergus is the man to promote the Auld Hoops club?
LB
The green man
Let’s hope the waning of his powers as evidenced this season is temporary….maybe he’s been holding back a bit, saving himself for this.
IGC
You missed out Marc Croissants.
LB
Beat this one…
Lubomir Moravchicken
Morning all.
Just catching up.
The manager of Italy at the 1970 WC was one Ferrucio Valcareggi and not Helenio Herrera.
HH!!
beatbhoy
hope you are right bud….the wee man has real magic in those boots.
if he is on song….no team will stop him….including Brazil imo.
im really looking forward to it.
HH
Sorry to interrupt the politics. We will have the European Cup at the Celtic store in Argyle Street this Saturday along with the three Lisbon Lions – Tommy Gemmell, Bertie Auld and John Hughes. Times 1pm -4pm. The three Lions will each sign All the Best or Yogi Bare for the perfect Father’s Day gift.
As mentioned earlier Bertie will be on CQN tomorrow – believe it or not he’s hoping to talk about football.
winning captains
Can you ask while you are in if the Young Hoops membership can be handed into any store if you get a chance?
Magic, cheers!
LB
Wayne Mince
World Cup excitement…. I’m looking forward to the referees using the spray paint to place free-kicks and defensive walls. The paint disappears after 1 minute
As exciting as watching paint dry!
billy bhoy 05
10:52 on 12 June, 2014
I am not attacking you for raising the issue but IMO YES/NO bookie coupons are quite possibly the worst value available from such shops – and that’s saying something.
For the uninitiated, the punter is asked to answer 6 idiot-friendly questions for the promise of a 33/1 payout. You must get all 6 correct.
Assume the bookie is offering you 5/6 your choice on each.
Do the maths. A 6-fold accy with all selections at 5/6 pays £37.97.
The very embodiment of a mug bet.
Morten Weigwurst!
£37.97 for £1
mickbhoy1888
11:26 on
12 June, 2014
Wayne Mince
———————
wayne sleep would have been better :)
HH
expat_celt
No Scottish referees in attendance. Our refs would spray it in their faces.
LB
For anyone interested.
I am told that from 12 noon William Hill is offering Evens Brazil tonight v Croatia to a max £20 stake
Which, if any, of the players we’ll see at the world cup are possible signing targets for Celtic?
Does anyone know?
Steakdianebobo Balde
ernie lynch
11:31 on 12 June, 2014
Ghana keeper Adam Kwarasey has already been linked. Was RDs captain at Stroemsgodset
Roy Ait-madinner
All managed by Ronny Deilacatessen.
Or Big Billy McVeal.
Battle of the bakers!
Bertie Auld’s & John Greggs
LB
Scottish referees and paint.
Being the progressive bunch they are I’m sure they would be happy to take on new ideas and initiatives and use orange paint.
World Cup excitement building up… I would love to see some old-school cynical fouling (or plain daft) – scything tackles, shirt-ripping, gobbing, hair-pulling
Cameroon vs Argentina (Caniggia)
Uruguay vs Scotland (Strachan)
France v West Germany (Battison)
Netherlands v Germany (Gullit)
Who can forget Thomas Gravyson
LiviBhoy
I took out a Young Hoops membership for one of my kids yesterday at the Celtic Shop on Sauchiehall Street: just filled in a form at the desk, paid my cash and got the ‘goody bag’ …
FF
expat_celt
Rijkaard gobbed on Voller. Should have been banned for life!
LB
Does anyone know what seated area within paradise that the club are looking to convert to trial standing area ?
Folly Folly
Many thanks. Hopefully I can do it in Livingston shop.
LB
Expat,
Aye Schumachers was a brammer.
Feeling a bit stat-y…
You know what they say about stats, but they can help unearth some truths and cut through misplaced perceptions about some players.
Hope this renders right. Stats for league games only last season (strikers).
Appearances (AP)
Goals (G)
Assists (A)
Minutes Per Goal (MG)
Minutes Played (MP)
Minutes Per Assist (MA)
Minutes Per Goal or Assist (GOA)
AP G A MG MP MA GOA
Griffiths 13 7 9 133 929 103 58
Samaras 19 7 10 157 1102 110 65
Stokes 33 20 10 134 2687 269 90
Balde 20 3 1 137 411 411 103
Pukki 26 7 2 171 1198 599 133
Kris C 34 26 11 104 2716 247 73
Looking at that, the stats are a bit surprising. I like Samaras but would not have thought his actual end product would have been as high. Also shocked he played less league than Pukki.
I still feel Pukki has something to offer and might fit in better in the new system.
Balde’s stats aren’t too bad given the minutes he played but look terrible based on games played.
Both Pukki and Balde had to contend with being brought on as subs which can prevent you getting into the flow.
It also shows what an effective player Griffiths is, if he can be man-managed well he could become a top player for us. Common’s stats for someone who isn’t a main striker are phenomenal – the fact that Griffiths was involved in more goals per minute, albeit over a shorter period is highly promising.
Again, Samaras’ involvement in goals is surprising with high assists.
Below is Hoopers stats for the previous two seasons:
AP G A MG MP MA GOA
12/13 32 19 8 140 2668 334 99
11/12 37 24 7 119 2853 408 92
Stokes was actually more productive than Hooper overall.
So there we have it, if Griffiths can keep up his form he’ll be one of the best players to grace Celtic Park in years – Hooper scored more often than Stokes but Stokes contributed towards more goals. And Samaras was actually a very effective player in the league last season and will be a big loss.
Pukki more than anyone needs to pull the socks up, having actually played more minutes than Samaras.
MoneyballCSC
*** Stats taken for Transfer Markt – cannot guarantee accuracy ***