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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Celtic40me
You can’t blame your opponents for applying a strategy that beats your brains out with regularity.
Hebcelt
I think you picked up greenpinta wrong.
It’s the having to wait he finds unpalatable and I’m as frustrated by it myself but the Res12 always carried the millstone of criminal activity around its neck.
First it was the provenance of the evidence and now the use it is being put to in court.
It’s the justice system. Gtind slow grind fine.
Greenpinta
Apologies for pulling you into a conversation that was meant go for Green Man.
TET,
My post wasn’t specifically intended for you. Rather it was a general observation on economic common sense as I see it.
We all want the best players that we can possibly get within the constraints of Scottish football, but to do that, maintain Lennoxtown and continue to improve our infrastructure we have to get cash in through the gates and selling merchandise.
And last but definitely not least :- maintain our accreditation for ” investors in people”
Hail, Hail.
Earlier………………..
Some good stuff from GG and PJ on the Oba f-uscation issue……….
HH.
GoodCraic CSC.
Hebcelt / Auldheid,
Apologies if my punctuation gave the wrong impression to you.
I refer you to Auldheids post @ 9.55 hrs for correct interpretation.
Hebcelt,
What is your view ??????
HH.
BMCUW
Kolodzje(sp)?
That rings a bell. From St Michael’s , way back then.
HH!!
Ronny saying they are working hard on potenial targets in this transfer window,1 signing up to now,then he says he might wait till the summer, just a load of spin,we get it all the time,as for trialists another waste of the players time and the cost to bring them to this country,
AULDHEID on 28TH JANUARY 2016 12:48 AM
All I want from the Celtic Board is a statement making it clear that the Club do not accept the same club narrative.
That’s all.
All the other issues can be dealt with in the fullness of time.
I don’t think the Celtic Board will ever issue such a statement.
And I believe that some Celtic fans will always find an excuse for the Board’s failure.
TIMBHOY3. Same old Same old. H.H.
Hebcelt. Plan is simple. Used by Molde Marbor legia Malmo etc
Run the club as a football club
Don’t go into CL qualifiers with untried young players in your whole team especially defence eg boyata
If you have to buy a player for a few Million who is over 28 and maybe no sell on value. Do it. Do not use inexperienced players in key positions
Forget England they are not out main competitors and don’t just sell for about balance sheets. Create income from CL UEFA gave us a godsend in the champions route. We are against teams every year with a fraction of our income but we are failing due to lawells money ball projects
Morning Celts.
Right bhoys whats all this…..what have i done now:)
GreenPinata…if im picking you up right….I have watched Celtic since i was 6yrs old….since about 12, i was paying to see Celtic. Through my teenage years,twenties and thirties…i followed Celtic all over Europe….none of this was gratis, i paid.
Its only in the last few years ive stopped going regularly…SO…I think i have paid enough into the club to entitle me to get excited about transfers, or the lack of:)
Now.
Next…Auldheid, lets hear it:)….what have i said to annoy you?
HH
Burghbhoy on 27th January 2016 8:38 pm
Heartily sick about the Newco/Oldco debate.
Only in this warped country would there be any debate.
Rangers went into liquidation and a new club was formed, albeit playing in the same midden and same venemous support.
If it weren’t a new club why would League membership need to be transferred and why did the new club not get transfer fees for the players who didn’t TUPE.
Anyway, much as I’m sick of the whole farce I could never take out my frustration on my club, never withhold my support.
CELTIC are too precious to jeopardise .
CELTIC are our heritage , born out of the noblest ideals of any team.
Surely, we cannot consider withdrawing our support?
We must mobilise and ensure justice is done .
We owe it to Brother Walfrid, Big Jock and Tommy Burns and all of our greats.
Also to my Dad, and yours and your grandparents and those who went before that.
Celtic means so much.
Please don’t muck it up
HH
====================
Well said,
HH
Greenpinata,
“I find it slightly amusing that some of the supporters advocating or currently withholding financial input are quite vocal on who we should be signing.”
See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/spfl-not-uncompetitive-outlier-its-the-new-norm/comment-page-8/#comment-2762664
Can you give us an example please ?
I see this kind of accusation made often but rarely with any examples of posters and their recommended signing targets, surely you have someone in mind when you make accusations like this or is it just an excuse to lash out at everyone who advocates not financing a rigged game ?
Timbhoy3
Ties in with what I heard yesterday. Fletcher has agreed pre contract for the summer but we’re trying to do a deal to get him in by Monday.
‘GG
“Say what you want about the SPFL. . . . ”
——————————————–
Click on ‘honours’, once you’ve stopped laughing about ‘Founded 1872’
Seems to be a breakdown of communication somewhere along the (party) line.
http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/rangers/
SydneyTim
Do Craig Gordon and Carlton Cole come under the category of young project? ;-)
Gents,
The Board’s failing in this “statement” is a matter of opinion. In my opinion, we as in supporters have given our views via national media. The Sunday Herald statement is as valid today as when it was printed.
I also believe that simple statement was a legal minefield and it did not meet with unanimous support within the wider Celtic support.
It is always possible , maybe probable that Celtic have been advised by their legal team to say nothing at this stage.
HH.
GP
I don’t attend games due to location, but I and my family spend a fair few bob each year on merchandise via the club shop, so imo, I am as entitled to voice my concerns, even if I didn’t I would still be entitled.
I agree that we are constrained due to being in scotland, but the lessons are not being learned by those who make the decisions, we have been told that preparing for the CL is the goal, and from what I can see, we are not doing this to the best of our ability.
I think we are on the right path but the policy is far too rigid, a slight deviation now and again to actually build a team that will hopefully make the CL should be the aim, not bringing in projects all the time, and please don’t sight Carlton Cole, I am mystified as to why he was signed.
HH
Wooft…40 yrs of paying to watch Celtic doesnt count eh.
How dare i even contemplate commenting.
Seriously!
HH
m6bhoy on 27th January 2016 10:07 pm
If at the end of the day (whenever that is but it is fast approaching), our board refuses to stand up for our own fans and declare that Sevco is a brand new club and we do not recognise their claim to honours won/cheated by RIFC (1872) then my 50 years plus support will end. It is a simple as that. This will be a personal decision as it will be for many others. My support for the club once was unconditional but I now refuse to spend any more money on a rigged game that it is no more credible than World Wide Entertainment wrestling.
I understand the attitude of those to whom supporting the team is just too big a part of their lives to contemplate giving it up. That used to be me but of late I have changed my mind and I simply cannot support a club that condones cheating on an industrial scale, could stand up to it but wilfully refuses to do so.
I think the guardians of our club seriously under-estimate the strength of feeling that exists amongst a significant section of the support about this. It may not be a majority but right now the club simply cannot afford to lose many more active supporters. In fact, I think they took the stand we all want them to then it would actually encourage many supporters who have stopped going to matches to return to the fold. It is therefore in our interests to do this which makes me wonder why our board can’t see this or do but still refuse to tell the truth about Sevco.
=====================
If it was like WWF then the zombies would have a chance of winning.
We won.
Celtic will not be doing any ‘OLD FIRM’ pandering.
Other issues are ongoing and in the fulness of time more will come out – it will be unequivocal, Celtic will say their piece and all these things you are feeling right now towards the hierarchy of the club will seem like water under the bridge.
Spare us the tantrum in the meantime.
Celtic were the main victims in all of this, lets not forget.
HH
GREENPINATA on 28TH JANUARY 2016 10:21 AM
‘It is always possible , maybe probable that Celtic have been advised by their legal team to say nothing at this stage.’
###
Or indeed any stage?
Celtic are never going to make a statement. We all know that. Why pretend otherwise?
TGM
Yip I have been getting that as well, but don’t let the facts get in the way :-)
HH
TRADITIONALIST88
“Celtic were the main victims in all of this, lets not forget”
Yeah, and thats why we should be speaking out against it.
The PLC should tell the truth….thats what is required.
Anything else…is just bs.
You dont speak for me, or the thousands of Celtic fans who have had enough of the cheating.
Looking the other way, wont work this time.
HH
Traditionalist88,
You commended Burghbhoys post, however the following quote from it IMO is a problem,
“We owe it to Brother Walfrid, Big Jock and Tommy Burns and all of our greats. Also to my Dad, and yours and your grandparents and those who went before that.”
All of the above identified (with the exception of Br walfrid) suspected we were being cheated, none had proof, I expect if they had the same proof we now have they most likely would not believe the same as he does, its pure supposition and is not even a decent argument, its simply sentimental claptrap.
TET
Carlton Cole is a mystery to us all. Good song though.
Greenman
To reitterate, it is your prerogative.
Canamalar
What was the survey results? And did you read Aye Naw yesterday about wholesale corruption in German footie.
Hebcelt
What is you opinion ? Surely you must have one? We are all friends on here, you can share it with us.
HH.
Hope we strengthen now with a view to CL . Ronny talking about waiting until the summer is like what has gone before and that certainly hasn’t worked in August.
TET
The uber fans on CQN, make the Green Brigade look like part-timers.
We are better fans than you….na na na na na.
Yawn:)
HH
Ernie Lynch
What authority would Celtic have to make such a statement?
What effect would it have other than keep you happy. At whose expense?
If we discredit non authorative sources that TRFC fans use to justify being the same club like ASA or ECA and rightly so, why would a statement by Celtic not be similarly be discredited by them? It would change nothing.
That to me is a reason not to say anything not an excuse. It would be throwing petrol on a smouldering fire. Is that not a good reason to stay silent?
Regardless of what proper authority ie the SFA might say (and they and SPFL have never issued an official statement from their Boards) to TRFC fans they will still say they are the same club so what difference would a statement with no authority behind it make?
GreenPinata
Yes…you are certainly right there.
It is my prerogative.
I can see no other way to challenge the corruption and cheating, than to do it financially…..Money is the God.
If thats the only way i can protest…so be it.
HH
I posted this late Tuesday evening:
“Fuorigioco”
At the centre of the investigation are allegations that players and other individuals doctored documents to try to avoid tax payments. The seizure of assets was a response to a “deep-rooted system” to evade taxes involving 35 football clubs and 100 individuals, Piscitelli said.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/26/tax-evasion-italy-serie-a
Traditionalist88,
“Celtic were the main victims in all of this, lets not forget.”
A very disingenuous statement to make.
Celtic supporters were/are the main victims not the board, they made plenty of money while the support forked out on a rigged game.
The Green Man on 28th January 2016 10:29 am
TRADITIONALIST88
“Celtic were the main victims in all of this, lets not forget”
Yeah, and thats why we should be speaking out against it.
The PLC should tell the truth….thats what is required.
Anything else…is just bs.
You dont speak for me, or the thousands of Celtic fans who have had enough of the cheating.
Looking the other way, wont work this time.
=======
I think we all realise we all speak for ourselves.
What are you so desperate for Celtic to do or say? Do you need a weatherman to tell you when its raining?
There is an ongoing procedure. Celtic will do no OF pandering because its not the Old Firm, this has been confirmed to numerous fans groups.
Why is the hysteria increasing now? Because there is a new Rangers who may or may not appear in the top flight next season? Are you running scared of them?
If they survive long enough they may cement a top six spot, if they’re lucky.
Celtic will comment when the time is right and the little tantrums being thrown on here will seem futile.
HH
Greenpinata,
I did read Awe_Naw’s report, and no sure what your point is, are you trying to say that every club that is majority owned by fans will be corrupt ?
Currently 2/3 support fan ownership
but that may change, 264 votes cast, will be ending poll at 1000 votes or 14 Feb which ever comes first.
do you support fan ownership for Celtic,
Yes/No here
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/95NXR99
Auldheid,
There is nothing stopping the Celtic board questioning the number of honors accredited to the new club on the official SFA and SPFL websites, it detracts from the fact that Celtic is the most successful club in Scotland.
You call concern for sporting integrity ‘Tantrums’.
You are out of touch.
I have no faith whatsoever in DD, PL, and the assorted Tory rabble on the board.
When will they stand up for Celtic?
Silence is not the answer.
HH
Cheers Canamalar,
Of course not every club owned by fans will be corrupt.
But the German model has not prevented corruption, indeed it seems to have made it worse.
HH.
Ps : If I got this right. GG voted to remain as we are, thus he voted yes for fan ownership.
AULDHEID on 28TH JANUARY 2016 10:36 AM
‘What authority would Celtic have to make such a statement?’
I’m not sure what you mean by authority in this context. It is a matter of fact that they are a new club. Celtic, as a business, have a patrimonial interest in establishing and maintaining that they are the most successful extant club in Scotland. I would argue that the Board have a fiduciary duty to the shareholders to make the Club’s position clear. That’s all the authority they need.
###########
‘What effect would it have other than keep you happy.’
For some time now corruption in sport has been a hot topic across the world. Cycling, FIFA , the Olympics, Athletics and now Tennis have all come under scrutiny. There is a groundswell of public opinion to clean up sport. Celtic speaking out on what is happening here would attract attention from outwith Scotland, it would help shine a light on things others would rather keep hidden. It would also aid other smaller, weaker clubs to speak out.
As for keeping me happy, it is important for the Club to keep faith with the fans.
And sometimes just doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do is enough of a reason.
Not that it matters though.
We both know perfectly well that Celtic will never speak out. It just won’t happen