BBC 5Live got into a bit of bother yesterday for asking if Paris St Germain’s domestic domination is turning the French league into the SPFL. PSG (60) are 21 points ahead of second place Monaco (39) in Ligue Un and could win the title next month. Celtic, of course, are only 6 points clear in the Scottish Premiership and will not win the title until April.
The pertinent point that 5Live were a bit clumsy in making is that PSG, who will win four-in-a-row this year, and Celtic, won will win five-in-a-row, are competing in one horse races. Karl Heinz Rummenigge made a similar point about Bayern Munich earlier this month (an example 5Live could also have used). Bayern are 8 points clear and also on their way to four-in-a-row.
Then there’s Juventus, who, like Celtic, hope to win five-in-a-row this season. Juve had a horrible start to the season but 11 league wins on the bounce have seen them close to within 2 points of Napoli at the top of Serie A.
Basel are 10 clear and on their way to seven-in-a-row in Switzerland, while Red Bull’s money will collect a third consecutive Austrian title for Salzburg this year.
Ajax are not quite there, having only won four of the last five titles, but Dutch football has been shrinking in competitive terms for over 3 decades (Ajax and PSV between them have won all but 3 titles in 31 years). Anderlecht, who have won three in four in Belgium, are also a little short of complete domination.
England’s different, no one has retained the title since 2009 and it’s not going to happen this year. Spain have seen a change of winner in the last four years and, with the world’s two biggest clubs, are likely to remain competitive, while Benfica and Porto are still nip and tuck in Portugal. These three are the outliers of Western European football.
Reality is that three of the ‘big five’ European leagues, and many others, are no longer competitive. Successful clubs know how to stay ahead of their peers, there are several formulas to help them. Permanently breaking this domination has never been more difficult.
Scottish football is not an uncompetitive outlier, it’s the new norm. The same questions being asked about Celtic are also being asked about dominant teams across the Continent. What football does about it is another story. Keep your eye on Rummenigge. He’s ambitious and wants to change things.
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Philbhoy on 27th January 2016 4:14 pm
Kettles and Irons?
In Paisley we re-use ours. Some folk have too much money.
BEATBOY
Re caption on player’s tackle on another Celtic site.
Thanks for the compliment, but it was not my good self who inserted the caption. I used to troll through some Celtic sites, but found some posters rather rude, and , would you believe, resorting to attacks on fellow Tims!Some even used bad language ! Crivvens, jings and helpmabob! No, I will stick with CQN and Major Paul, where there is nothing but unrestrained love, fraternity and a monolithic loyalty to all things Hoopy !
A great Coatbridge Celt, Billy Davidson, will be laid to rest on Saturday.Billy was a talented musician and great quizzer. Did very well on Countdown a few years ago. Richard Whitely introduced him as unemployed, loves playing the guitar, watching Celtic and touring America ! He had great memories of watching the Celts in the 50’s and 60’s from Phil Coles. Last saw him at Vigil Mass 3 weeks ago in his wheelchair on a quite dreadful night.
RIP, Billy.
I wish I had a superbin to put half my collection of bins in.
Tell the truth and bring it on…we have nothing to fear.
Cheating in football should always be challenged.
STRIP THE TITLES:)
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 on 27TH JANUARY 2016 4:24 PM
Awe_Naw
You don’t live in the UK I believe? I suspect thats a reason you don’t give them your money;)
Did not stop me before :-)
HH
P.S. Terge
Whit are Kettles and irons for?
Hearts make second bid for John Souttar.
HH
Timbhoy3……73 and Aint for giving up….Brilliant…Loved that post….
Glendalytonsils
The game went in to extra time and was played to a finish that day.
We were however also cheated in the quarter final by Craig Thomson, in the first game and the replay, who could forget Griffiths being assaulted by the goalkeeper when clean through and a yellow issued. Probably makes my top ten of unbelievably corrupt decisions against us in such a competitive field.
glendalystonsils on 27th January 2016 4:38 pm
That’s they things you buy your wife for Christmas. I think you make tea with the iron and press your shirts with the kettle.
have a great night Celts,quality reading thanks very much
Hail to one and all
:-)
This league setup is corrupt and we shan’t play in it anymore! We shall play in the [insert league that doesn’t want us here].
(a few days later)
We can’t find a ball to play with, can we play with you guys again?
s/b
hail hail to one and all
:-)
HH
doh!csc
So…when is this loan for the messi like 18 yr old due?
That one we can never afford whatever happens.
Cant see the point of it.
If he is any good, get the Croatian lad, and the two Norwegian lads.
That will do.
Although Steven ‘Lambo’ Fletcher might be hovering about, just waiting until the last hour of the transfer window to see if he can get more dough out of PL:)
Good luck with that Fletch:)
HH
Celtic Mac, didn’t know that.
What a shower.
Awe Naw, Tuesday, I think.
Auldheid, many obstacles to overcome.
Thomthethim, indeed.
If Celtic are not part of the plans for a European league which will feature the ‘big five’ nations then why are we not looking at proposing something similar involving the remaining European nations, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, Norway etc?
Why do we wait for others to make plans or put forward ideas when we could do it ourselves?
Celtic could put out a very reasonable proposal – with ONLY ourselves or ourselves and Aberdeen included – and in doing so distance ourselves from the club pretending to be Rangers.
Kevin Bridges has an alternative use for a kettle
Terje Vigen on 27th January 2016 4:43 pm
Thon Paisley must be one sophisticated and technologically advanced place!
Kinda Silicon Valley but better _:))
I agree with Ernie, Celtic were profoundly silent for oh what seems a very long time whilst citing the concern for the wellbeing of their supporters as primary priority prior to courtroom drama ever being mooted to see the light of corruption. I think to invoke ‘ unadulterated love’ of the club as a measure of worth is to invite a severe bout of cognitive dissonance in the sincere of morals, ethics and heart.
The worst of it is…they are dead, yet they exist.
Its like Poltergeist all over again.
Like an episode of Twin Peaks.
Just when you thought it was safe eh:)
Be like Hell on Wheels next season.
When the dead walk the earth.
Definitely scope for some epic mayhem.
Wooft.
HH
Hmmmmmmmm
https://johnjamessite.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/a-proscribed-5-letter-word/
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35415217
This is a good example of China’s ambitions to gatecrash the football cash cow.
I doubt the unions will let this go through
Burgas Hoops,
A page turner of a biography. I read it in two sittings.
I never thought that Gaelic football could be such an intelligent game!
winning captains on 27th January 2016 4:53 pm
Agreed, not sure why we have to wait until the battery runs out on Karl Heinz Rummenigges watch(es).
At least we know for a fact that clubs in a similiar position to ourselves have made progress in having the CL qualification criteria revamped. This is a massive step forward to hear that Uefa are more open than ever to this. The penny finally dropping that the same clubs contesting the latter stages of the CL every year is not enticing and devalues the group stages. I’d expect an update soon on proposals in this regard given the public display of confidence toward the end of last year.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/1334168-celtic-and-others-to-propose-change-to-champions-league-qualification/
What these changes could entail is anyones guess but whoever thought the European Cup final could be played on a Saturday between two clubs who didn’t win their league!
HH
Sid said:
” I’m desperate to return but my pigheadedness and pride will not allow me – ”
Sid, I honestly understand your predicament but I also believe that you can put yourself in control of your `pigheadedness and pride `. If you are not happy with your decision not to return, then it is probably the wrong decision.
The Green Man
Have you ( and others) not read any of Auldheid`s posts ?
It seems obvious that some `strange` events have been taking place in the Administration of Scottish Football over the last few years. The reason for these also seems obvious ie To keep some form of Rangers in contention in Scotland.
From what I can gather, we only have to wait another three months or so before Auldheid can reveal all. If you/we have waited for years, can we not, now, wait these extra months then come to our individual decisions? A little more information is necessary before we can make a definitive judgement on Celtic`s true intentions.
JJ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30646033#
Dungcaster last year
HH
kettles and irons, is it ?
The wife wanted an Apple phone, pad, watch or something for Christmas.
I got her an iRon.
She didn’t find it funny either…
;o)
JJHS
I have indeed read Auldheid’s posts, which are always informative.
However….personally, i dont believe there will be any victory for sporting integrity.
Its just as everybody assumes it to be…they have control, they do what they like….lets move on.
Thats how i see it panning out.
HH
If and when they come, I’m sure the programs at home grounds will make great reading, ohhhh I’d love to do the one at Celtic Park :))
Jungle Jim
The sad thing is events since LNS has only reinforced the feeling I made the only decision available to me.
Five way agreement, Desmond, Rangers are a great club, Charlotte fake, Res 12.
No sport, no money. HH
JJHS
You cant expect honesty from cheats and bigots.
Thats about it.
You keep silent…you deserve to be cheated.
Its clear to me.
HH
If Celtic move to a new European set up and also the Zombies. Are you still turnstile fodder if you go to these games.
Laurelgreen………..last Monday evening I listened to a sports radio programmed on RTE and the first twenty were devoted to the big decline in passion of the players and poor entertainment in the EPL. The verdict was that the players were all multi millionaires and could not really be bothered about performance good or bad. Yet our newspapers, TV radio etc are feeding this monster that has been created by Sky to the detriment of other leagues.
Lennons Passion
My biggest beef is with the authorities, I’m not shocked by the fact the Huns cheated.
Moving on isn’t an option in this case, I do however remain hope the court cases or fans will be the tipping point.
TGM
” Its just as everybody assumes it to be…they have control, they do what they like….lets move on. Thats how i see it panning out. ”
That is fair enough and probably reflects my feelings as well ( although, of course, I hope we are wrong). Where we differ, though, is that I believe we should wait until the Court Cases are over then we will be in a position to make a worthwhile judgement on Celtic . Apparently Celtic have good reason for not making the kind of announcement I believe many of us would love to hear. I am willing to wait a little longer before I decide what is the best course of action.
Sid,
I genuinely understand your dilemma but my point remains.If your decision is causing you to be unhappy, it is the wrong decision.
JJ
Apologies if already posted.
Here is a Petition worth signing!
Return integrity to football administration in Scotland
https://www.change.org/p/scottish-football-association-return-integrity-to-football-administration-in-scotland-673d2730-4863-4499-8b6d-b4c6e908318f?source_location=petitions_share_skip
HH
JJHS
Id be delighted if you are proved right.
We can only hope:)
HH
SID on 27TH JANUARY 2016 4:24 PM
I chucked attending after LNS, although I still have my shares.
The reason I come on here is because I want the club I have supported all my life to take action against proven cheating.
Is that too much to ask?
Without any action to the cheating the game is a farce, I will not be taken as a mug.
I’m desperate to return but my pigheadedness and pride will not allow me.
What planet do you live on if you think coming on a CQN. Will make Celtic deal with cheating. Its a football forum.