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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Had to smile when I read this on the BBC site ( Richard Wilson, I think) :
” Since Diarougaga went elsewhere and O’Halloran remains at St Johnstone, the whole recruitment process has not worked as smoothly and effectively as Rangers (sic) would have liked.”
`The WHOLE recruitment process’ whatever that is, described as not being smooth and effective! Currently, NEITHER of the two `key` signings have been signed yet it has only ` not worked as smoothly and effectively as Rangers (sic) would have liked.` What about : It has not worked AT ALL!
JJ
It has been quite a good day on CQN. To ensure that continues,, it is Cheerio from me for now 0:-)
JJ
Good evening from a very windy Lancashire. Really enjoying this debate, all good stuff, just like the good old days on here when I used to have more time to join in.
My take on this has remained constant, sort the Referees and we start to sort the problem. We will see on Sunday and next week at Pttoddrie how they can easily scupper our treble bid as they did last year.
Now, I have no crystal ball just a horrible feeling of impending demand vu, I am not even sure if that is possible but that is my fear.
I do believe the people at the top have their own agenda, driven by the fear of losing the blazer and all that it brings. If you want to know why the CL final is played on a Saturday just ask the men at the top and they will say that TV demands that prime spot.. The fact that the blazers and their partners enjoy a 5 star weekend trip to Berlin, Paris, Moscow or wherever is a pure coincidence.
Self interest overrides any other purpose.
Our own little pantomime played out in the outskirts of Europe does not interest the guys at the top of European football. They have their own little kingdom to protect and will go down screaming and clutching their Gold cards to the bitter end.
I do appreciate that the German situation is an interesting one: the fact that many of their own blue riband brands like Adidas, Bayern Munich, Volkswagen/Audi have all been exposed recently is a source of great embarrassment . I hope it is more than that , however the Investment that Adidas allegedly have at EUFA may well mean that the names at the top table may change but the circus will roll on probably. Adidas are showing some ability to grasp the nettle in athletics, but that will be small potatoes compared to their commitment to football, I hope they continue to take a moral stance.
I have not a clue how that will play out , but history tells me that the big four leagues will get bigger and we will be outside their own circles of concern and circles of influence.
The next 10 days will be interesting for our own club, that is a big enough item to focus on just now.
Hail! Hail!
The Stupidity of the OBA
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/scotlands-free-speech-opponents-remain-as-hypocritical-as-they-are-illiberal/
AULDHEID on 27TH JANUARY 2016 3:04 PM
Ernie Lynch
You have no idea what they have to be careful of. Or don’t you read our papers?
It’s gone way beyond steel crime.
#####
And this is all going to change once the various civil and criminal court cases ( and any ensuing appeals) have been finalised, is it?
Is that when the Celtic board will make a statement?
WOOFT JJ giving it to Broadfoot right in the neck.
https://johnjamessite.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/wiki-tennis/
The gemme’s a bogey
TERJE VIGEN on 27TH JANUARY 2016 4:43 PM
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After trying to read through some great posts…that caught me off guard, belter. :)
Lennons Passion
I don’t think coming on here will make Celtic take action, I do hope enough fans will care enough to join together and force action.
No need for the what planet nonsense, I get it you can stomach a rigged game.
Brokeback Broadfoot, ?
Paul67.
I look forward to another giggle on Tuesday then :-)
HH
Tontine Tim
From earlier, had things to do.
When the sfa et all were trying not to sanction the huns a few years back, it was the threat of withholding season book money that force the change, the clubs were Aberdeen and Dundee Utd, the Celtic support did feck all but gorge on jelly and ice cream, it’s that time again, but I doubt we will see the same level of passion from the above mentioned support, and I fully expect the Celtic support to be as apathetic as they were before.
The game is fecked, well and truly fecked, there is no will to change, the bigot pound is all encompassing.
I could be wrong, but I will wager I am not.
HH
…………………………………
Auldheid
With respect, you are still making excuses for the silence, it keeps moving from one thing to another, it’s now court cases that are prevent speaking out…..against what ?
The LNS decision, the club mentioned they were surprised by the decision, and that was it, no follow up, no mention of illegally registered players, no mention of having titles stolen from them, nothing, these are issues that are outwith the current court cases.
I will tell you now what the outcome of the court cases will be, ” Nothing that will harm the hun will be the verdict ”
There may be, but I very much doubt it, a wee bit jail time for some minor charge, but no way will the hun be harmed.
And when they are finished, I will tell you what the club and the other clubs will say…..Nothing, sweet fa.
And deep down you know I am right, it’s scotland, they should have been sin died already, but look at whats just around the corner.
Justice and integrity, don’t make me laugh.
HH
TET
Well said.
I said earlier…Silence wont help Celtic.
Speaking the truth will.
HH
Hearts bid 100k for Souttar from DU
“Will I ever come back and support the new club? ……I haven’t thought about it.”
Steven Naismith
A Morton fan on Snyde clears up the Halliday story,a clear GIRUY arm gesture to the home crowd.Strange no cameras have picked this up? Meanwhile Warbiola has written to the SFA for clarification,pretty easy Bread Boy,your player is a liar,and being ‘disrespectful ‘ ….allegedly
!!BADA BING!! on 27TH JANUARY 2016 6:50 PM
A Morton fan on Snyde clears up the Halliday story,a clear GIRUY arm gesture to the home crowd.Strange no cameras have picked this up? Meanwhile Warbiola has written to the SFA for clarification,pretty easy Bread Boy,your player is a liar,and being ‘disrespectful ‘ ….allegedl
******
There is footage of Halliday’s double clenched fist gesture. It was shown when they were analysing the incident.
I can’t remember at what time it was shown, I think it was post match.
They showed the innocuous celebration first, but the camera behind the goal showed him snarling and upwardly punching the air, twice.
!!BADA BING!! on 27TH JANUARY 2016 6:50 PM
A Morton fan on Snyde clears up the Halliday story,a clear GIRUY arm gesture to the home crowd.Strange no cameras have picked this up? Meanwhile Warbiola has written to the SFA for clarification,pretty easy Bread Boy,your player is a liar,and being ‘disrespectful ‘ ….allegedly
————————————————–
Wouldn’t the reason for the 2nd yellow card be clearly explained in the referees match report?
Bada bing
Halliday was clearly seen on TV doing the giruy gesture to Morton fans.
Smug obnoxious git Nevin getting ripped apart on Shortie. Preston does not miss him.
Auldheid, hope I’m not interrupting your wee gless or two of Rioja, as you soak up the sun.
One thing concerns me about current discussion of the Nimmo Smith findings. Their authenticity or otherwise is being linked to the final findings in the BTC. If HMRC wins, NS goes wallop, so it goes.
I always thought NS was wrong of itself: wrongly commissioned, wrongly advised, fed wrong evidence, and deprived of available key evidence.
That being the case, surely it should be struck down, if that’s the expression, regardless of any appeal result in the BTC?
http://celticunderground.net/celtic-meeting-with-police-scotland/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
!!BADA BING!! on 27TH JANUARY 2016 6:39 PM
Hearts bid 100k for Souttar from DU
Can see him holding out in the hope we sign him on a pre contract. He would probably be better staying at Tannadice until the summer then see what his options are.
Bada
As I posted the other day . Bbc website report on halliday second yellow said their cameras didn’t pick anything up yet the clip attached to that piece clearly shows him doing a Girfuy gesture to the fans in the home stand then turning to the zombies behind the goal
Dear Celtic,
I for one am waiting on justice in the game being served after years of cheating and collusion between Ibrox and Hampden.
I’m lucky enough to have the disposable income to buy a season book and merchandise.
When I see justice done I’ll buy in.
Just so you know ;)
Heard today that Steven Fletcher has agreed a pre contract deal to join us in the summer. Discussions on going to see if we can get him this window.
I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to the bit where we are presented with a ‘forgive, forget and condone’, fait accompli.
Partially motivated by the famous curled winkle-pickers, a long lost poster ventures back, dipping a toe in the water…
At the risk of stereotypical cries of ‘paranoid’ I cannot but note that the long established rules of not having the right to appeal 2 yellow cards is under extreme pressure when a Sevconian midfielder might be required for a lower league clash.
So, to sum up a certain club can cheat the tax payer, the registration requirements of the football association to no (effective) avail.
That same club can die but is apparently capable of magical, logic-defying reincarnation.
The reincarnated entity can spend sums way beyond its means and survive on soft loans and debt without official concern.
It can ‘win’ court cases that redefine legal logic.
It can attempt to steam-roller ‘lesser’ clubs into selling them its players on ludicrous undervaluation whilst the media report the selling club as disingenious to deny ‘the lad his dream move’, again without official concern.
And now, it can pressure for rule changes as the established rules (those it hasn’t already driven a truck through that is) are an inconvenience in the face of a forthcoming game.
But the game is not a fix…
Yeah, right…
West Wales Celt
Welcome back….and good post.
Scoddish Fitba….Twin Peaks:)
HH
WWC
Good to see you back.
Some mhan that winkle picker :-)
And you are so right, it stinks.
HH
I would buy Soutar from Utd.
West Wales
Great to hear from the valleys again.
Hail Hail
West wales,
All of that seems reasonable to a number of Huns :-0
Poor Steven Fletcher waits year’s to play for us and turns Down a fortune for the privilege.Pity there will be no supporters apart from a few turnstile fodder .
THE EXILED TIM on 27TH JANUARY 2016 7:45 PM
I would buy Soutar from Utd.
How do we do that if supporters aren’t going to renew. Where is your seat at paradise. Cake and eat it.
Westy
Welcome back …. bmcuw are actually magic slippers
When your struggling in the lower leagues and scraping a team together which needs Andy halliday you know your not the once mighty tenner for every fiver mob
Caught a wee bit of clyde when they discussed sevco not being held to ransom with them offering £160 for their top target when he’s valued at £500k. Duffy saying they need to realise times have changed but omitting the fact they are not rangers fc and back then theit money bags attitude led to their death
Interesting how the huns keep producing the Hallidays of this world.
You have to wonder whether they were always like that or were converted at Ibrox?
Perhaps a combination of both.
The “commentators” suggested that a prematch interview with Halliday may have explained his behaviour.
Interesting.
Bhoys-excuse me,I haven’t seen any footage of Halliday,I based my post on mainly radio Scotland’s Kenny McIntyre,who was looking for the referee to be demoted/jailed/flogged (delete as appropriate),before anyone was in the shower. HH
Cole, Cifti and Fletcher?
Underwhelmed, but will be happy to eat humble pie if it all clicks into place.
hail hail to all