One year ago, we dared hope for an invincible treble but it seemed impossible, even the greats never achieved it. The Lions lost home and away to Dundee United in season 1966-67, while we achieved the treble on only two other occasions. When Tom Rogic dinked a 90th minute winner in the Scottish Cup final you and I knew the level of achievement.
At that point, 2017 went down in our history as a year bettered only by 1967. 2003 came close, but season 2002-03 is remembered fondly for its endearing frailties. Celtic were simply peerless as they secured the club’s fourth treble.
With half of season 2017-18 complete, the first leg of what would be an unprecedented second successive treble is complete, but signs are clear that this team peaked some months ago, despite qualification for the Europa League knockout rounds.
Aware of the exceptional (from a Scottish perspective) demands on his players of completing in every round of cup competitions, a dozen European games and international football, Brendan Rodgers has rotated his squad this season more than any previous Celtic manager. While this was doubtlessly the correct action, performances inevitably took a hit when our two exceptional and experience strikers were watching from the side-lines. In football, you often need to take a backwards step to make long-term gains.
This didn’t really bothered me. I liked watching Odsonne Edouard, Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller. Being able to win the league while developing talent in this manner is one of the few benefits of being stuck in a small league.
Ultimately, even our top performers struggled to raise their game. Defeat eventually arrived, a timely signpost for the club as they plan ahead.
You and I have studied the structure of the club for many years. We have never known it to be as stable. Income last season topped £90m, the first time it reached this level, and with a fair wind, it could reach nine figures this season.
These riches come with fresh risks. Wage levels have rocketed in line with performances. We can afford our current operating levels – and can even afford an occasional reversal in the Champions League qualifiers, but there is a misalignment at the heart of what we are doing.
In his opening transfer window, Brendan added Moussa Dembele (who was already on the Ronny Deila target list) and Scott Sinclair. Both made a phenomenal contribution to the success which followed. This season, with Scott struggling to recapture his earlier form and Moussa hampered by injury, the big contributions have come from players who were at the club under the Ronny regime. Indeed, of the Celtic team which ended the year, only Olivier Ntcham was a Brendan Rodgers signing.
What we have added since the summer of 2016 is management expertise. Brendan took Ronny’s squad to levels none of us thought possible, but only two of his signings are automatic first-choice.
This is not necessarily against plan. When you sign French youth internationals like Ntcham and Edouard you do not expect them to immediately displace more experienced players. Players do not mature at the same rate – Kieran Tierney got their earlier than Kenny Dalglish, so if the plan is to recruit the best French and Scottish youth talent, patience will be required.
Notwithstanding this, Brendan will want to have more of his own signings grabbing starting slots in the big games. The players who were there under Ronny have made Herculean progress, but that invincible treble was their high point.
On that front, Lee Congerton joined in March as chief scout, a few months after the phenomenally successful John Park era ended. Scouting is as much about relationships as judgement and the environment is not conducive to friendship-making. Park’s job became increasingly difficult, despite his encyclopaedic knowledge of players sound judgement. Over his tenure, the Celtic proposition became comparatively less attractive.
The mere fact that Brendan Rodgers is manager changed this. Moussa didn’t sign for Ronny in January 2016 but put pen to paper for Brendan six months later. It is the job of Lee Congerton to make the most of the Celtic proposition, Brendan Rodgers and Champions League football to deliver players that can push us further in the Champions League.
Nothing of significance has changed in our chances of escaping our playing environment. We will remain in Scotland until at least the bubble inflating football incomes elsewhere bursts, most significantly of all in England. Within months the next England and Wales Premier League TV rights auction will conclude.
Premier League audiences have dwindled since the last rights were issued but Sky TV’s entire existence is predicated on winning a significant portion of these rights. The Premier League is trying to attract bids from Amazon and Facebook, so it is possible rights values could increase despite falling audience figures. But we can hope.
Until then, our role in the world is to dominate the life out of our domestic rivals, qualify for the Champions League and continue to add to the unique story of Celtic.
I loved every minute of being a Celtic supporter in 2017. It was thrilling, captivating and inspiring. Whatever it brings, your club will be an exciting place over the next 12 months. Enjoy it.
Take care and thank you for all your support. I hope you each have a Happy New Year and healthy 2018.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
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BMCUWP
ITs winter.
Good morning CQN from an extremely stormy East Devon.
BMCUWP
You were correct my friend, never known a night like it.
BARNEY67
Aye,is it!
IANBHOY929
Vicious hailstorm about 2am,I hunkered down like a big wuss for the duration!!! Weather disnae bother me,but them things sting…
BMCUWP
Aye, wee Hamish barking at the wind this morning.
Weet Weet Weet.
Thank you for your kind message.
You are a star.
Hail Hail
Park Rd.
If you are reading back. RE Juniors.
Cumbernauld are due to play Newtongrange in the Scottish (replay) at home. If they win, next up Bonnyrigg away!!. 4 away ties in a row.
I will be surprised if game is on. Torrential rain here yesterday, ice to follow.
Incidentally Cumbernauld beat Beith 4.2 in a friendly at Renfrew before Christmas. You would have got big odds on that. 2 up after 3 minutes, then Cumbernauld keeper had a stormer(MOM). It shows these kind of results do happen in football from time to time.
Hail Hail
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Glad to hear your better half has recovered from pneumonia. Worrying time for you both.
HH
I was with three friends at Ibrox Disaster game and we knew nothing about it till entering the Segton Inn In Kilwinning where the owner,Captain Bell(Rtd) wouldn’t pour our drinks and told us about it and ‘You all better get home straightaway and let your wifes know you are okay’ which we did.
Very sad day and as TT said there was only one exit at our end so presumably same at the other end.
My favourite Trainer Nicky Henderson has only TWO horses running today at LUDLOW.
1.50 INDIAN HA @ around 2/1.
3.50 SIMONIA @ around 13/8.
These are NOT Tips Bhoys and Ghirls….just my own fancies.
For a possible wee TREBLE…..ERHAMPTON 6.40 VALLEY OF LIGHT ( Godolphin Horse) @ around 6/1.
Fingers crossed .
HH
LUDLOW 1.50 INDIAN HAWK.
The horse tonight at Wolverhampton is GODOLPHINs ONLY Runner today
That fact usually catches my eye.
HH
Re Ibrox Disaster.
I took part in a Citizens Advice Course back in 2009.
I was informed by the Instructors that the very 1st CALL CENTRE in the UK was as a direct result of the disaster as a local Govan business man, brought in extra landlines to his business immediately after the disaster, in order that families had a contact number to reach for news.
I have no reason to doubt what I was told by CAB ?
HH
Get well soon BLANTYRE TIM….yet another good man downed by this nasty flu bug. Our meeting and beer today has now been postponed.
I’m still not too great either, its the worse Ive ever felt by flu for weeks.
HH
BLANTYRETIM
Get well soon,mate. Must be bad if yer missing a wee sesh wi BIGJIMMY.
My mate’s down with it anaw. Just been over to get him various electrolyte drinks,paracetamol,decent rolls. Took some of my precious skwerr out of the freezer.
He’s really ill,he canny face a drink. Which isnae being facetious,far from it. Just an indication of how bad this particular strain is.
Morning everyone & A happy new year to all. What on earth are we going to do for the next 17 days?
Big Jimmy.From today’s Racing Post.
Nicky Henderson doesn’t mind Ludlow either with amazing stats in the last 30 years of striking at 33 per cent with his 131 winners yielding more than £100 profit to each £1 staked.
The champion trainer sends two runners with the second the potential headline act as his bumper runner Simonia is a half-sister to the stable’s late-lamented star Simonsig. And yes the five-year-old is a grey.
Hail Hail
BMCUW.
Thank you for earlier message. Very much appreciated.
B.T.
Get well soon and look after yourself, keep a close eye on it.
Big Jimmy.
Have you been to Docs yet?
Hail Hail to all.
BIGJIMMY
Champion jockey Richard Johnson returns today at Ludlow too. There’s no way I’m going out in that weather to put a bet on-I’m expecting Brownie Points wi the big man just for venturing over to the shops for my mate!-but I’m sure toying wi a wee online venture.
Btw,The Big Fella Upstairs sure owes me one after yesterday. 80p L/15 and a £3 acca.
Four bliddy seconds. 4/1,4/1,5/1 and 22/1.
JimBowenCSC
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Goes without saying,old bean. Your fortitude is a lesson to us all.
HH
Word of The Day
attaint /əˈteɪnt/
verb (transitive) ( archaic)
1. to pass judgment of death or outlawry upon (a person)
2. condemn by bill of attainder
3. to dishonour or disgrace
4. to accuse or prove to be guilty
noun
5. Obsolete. a stain; disgrace; taint.
KTF
Seanp1916
” What on earth are we going to do for the next 17 days? ”
What about wee questions? Here`s one:
BMCUW used the word `facetious` which has the five vowels in alphabetical order. There is at least one other word which does that.What is that word? ( No Googling).
JJ
Been offline for a wee while – a bit under the weather, but a Happy and prosperous New Year to all on here – and your families.
2017 was a fantastic Celtic supporting year and hopefully 2018 will be in the same vein!
KTF
Hot Smoked
It had to be a language question :-(
Despite only speaking one language i have always considered English to be my 2nd
Seanp
OK , you deserve a clue.
Big Jimmy is not usually this but he is at the moment.
I have to go now but I will look back in about 11:30.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Celtic interested in a South American wonderkid?
He clearly has Irish roots with a name like Joe Quinn Fernandez…
Abstemious.
I’m frequently one,but rarely the other.
DAVIDOPOULOS
If you had taken time to read yer Daily Mail this morning,you would know it’s wakeen
Speaks volumes for you that you ignore that rag. I’ve just got too much time on my hands at the moment!!!
Hot Smoked
I could lie and just google it to make myself look clever but to be honest i’d rather look stupid than have to go back to confession so i will resist the temptation and just admit defeat.
David Low “The Elephant In The Room”
A Guest blog by @heavidor:
Given The Takeover Panel’s success in procuring a Court of Session order to compel Dave King to make an offer for all Rangers International Football Club Plc shares not owned by the Concert Party it would be impossible for King to remain a director unless he complies with that Order.
The co-option of Barry Scott to the board and the elevation of Alistair Johnston as a person with significant control could be construed as repositioning, however it will be whether King makes an offer of 20 pence per share to all the shareholders not included in the Concert Party or not that will determine what happens next and we shall know later this month.
(King resigning) is the correct thing to do and should have already occurred. Instead, Rangers financial reputation has been dragged through the mud by association.
Irrespective of whether King complies with the Court Order or not this story is far from over, and it will continue to hamper Rangers’ prospects until it is conclusively resolved. A King resignation as a director of RIFC would reduce the prospect of contaminating the club, its directors and advisors from the full effect of cold shouldering should he decline to make an offer.
That would mean that King, as distinct from RIFC, had financial pariah status and not the club. That is the correct thing to do and should have already occurred but, instead, Rangers’ financial reputation has been dragged through the mud by association with King.
What should not be underestimated is the reality of cold-shouldering, not for just the offending party, but for those involved in business with the offending party. The consequences are dire for the individual or organisation who falls foul of the rules, making it impossible to carry out normal business activities within the sphere of influence of The Panel, and the same consequences face those who shelter the cold shouldered.
It should be appreciated that there are members of the RIFC that are members of regulated financial professions who would be further prejudiced through association with a cold shouldered non-resident King.
Perhaps unfortunately for a large slug of the mainstream media and football authorities, financial pariah status pursuant to cold shouldering in the UK coming on top of criminal convictions in SA would be impossible to spin in any positive way or to maintain continued fit and proper status. I mean, we could have the SFA cold shouldered, couldn’t we? All said though, the cognitively dissonant will carry on regardless.
If King does the right thing by resigning from the board, it is still important to appreciate that the ‘4 Bear’ Concert Party as determined by The Panel will continue to exist irrespective of how Kings deals with the instruction to make an offer for the shares. This is the elephant in the room that remains.
The Concert Party via their shares and loans will retain the same level of control they currently have, and therefore remain compelled to abide by The Panel’s rules.
King’s resignation would not remove that impediment.
It doesn’t end there. By challenging the authority and insulting the intelligence of The Panel and the Court, King has ensured all large share transactions in RIFC will be scrutinised and questioned and could additionally determine, for example, that the Concert Party is increased to include Club 1872 and Barry Scott on the basis they are working in concert with King and/or other concert party members.
There are some who think that The Panel has been slow to respond and impose sanctions and that they are all bark and no bite. It would be wrong to think so. The reality is that King has moved the whole dispute into uncharted territory. There has been no precedent for such continued brazen and naïve flouting of Panel rules. Accordingly, The Panel has chosen to move at its own pace, dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s and I suggest they’re being methodical rather than indecisive in dealing with the estimable Mr King.
The true value of RIFC shares was a key point in the recent court case with all kinds of claims being made. Some think that the lack of significant arm’s-length trades makes it impossible to arrive at a correct price, and others say that the price paid to Mike Ashley in recent trades is the benchmark. In my opinion, neither is correct. Current and prospective shareholders have the financial figures in the accounts to work with, and can determine the real worth from there. On that basis it is clear to me the shares are not worth anything like the last alleged trading price on Jenkins. Rather it seems that the shares only have nominal value given the business has never declared a profit, continues to lose money and is reliant upon ongoing shareholder loans to stay in business.
Any subsequent share issue – even with King gone – could muddy the waters further; The Concert Party members may expose themselves to another Panel instruction to make another offer should any of its members acquire more shares without coming to an arrangement with The Panel beforehand.
To illustrate such an arrangement, Dermot Desmond got Panel permission to increase his shareholding above 29.9% the last time Celtic had a share issue. This is preferable to trying to hoodwink the financial authorities with tall tales.
It should be clear to all followers of RIFC’s financial travails that the status quo is unsustainable. So, the question is ‘what’s next’? The chairman’s statement that accompanied the annual accounts once more talked about loan to equity conversion without reference to the impact of the existence of a Concert Party amongst the RIFC Board of directors and providers of loans. This is remarkable any such conversion cannot take place without the permission of The Panel and/or without dragging the other directors and lenders in the quagmire with another possible offer for the shares not owned by the Concert Party.
.. the shares only have nominal value given the business has never declared a profit, continues to lose money and is reliant upon ongoing shareholder loans to stay in business
So, what should happen and what is required for RIFC to rid itself of this terrible yoke? The answers are pretty obvious; King should make an offer of 20 pence per share to all those shareholders not included in the Concert Party. He has said the shares are worth more than that and that no one would accept. If he’s correct he has nothing to worry about and he would create a clear path forward for Rangers. He would also resolve the dispute with The Panel, creating the conditions for a debt to equity conversion.
So, why might that not happen? Because if the shares are worth 27 pence as the directors have suggested that means the loan to equity conversion would have to be at the same price and, of course, if the shares not worth anything like that there would be a rush to accept 27 pence and the ball would be on the slates, so to speak.
It appears to me the board is stuck between a rock and a hard place, that King will resign, and that there will be no offer.
If this happens the position would be precarious. The current board doesn’t have the credibility, money or experience to take Rangers forward. Being a true blue should not be the defining characteristic of what’s required to make Rangers competitive but it appears to be the preferred qualification of most of their customers.
I believe Rangers need a need owner with a controlling shareholding and deep pockets to sort out this mess, and I have reason to believe this view is shared by some of those with influence.
That is not to say that a solution is imminent, but the reality check is at least a start.
ohh very good and useful information
check one of the related topics http://www.googlesir.com/category/learn-in-clear-way-financial-and-management-accounting/
MURDOCHAULDANDHAY
Glad to hear of your “good” news,old bean. Everytime I hear about an elephant in the room,I always wonder what size the bliddy door was?
JJ
I have come across 2 others in my time.
1 word used by council in a trial I was sat on the jury for. I can’t remember it now but it was something to do with poison as was the trial. I remember writing it down and thinking that’s a bit facetious. :-) I’d need to google to remind myself.
The other I do know and given the convo on here this morning a few are being this as they aren’t touching a drop due to flu.
MWD
But I’ll
MOONBEAMSWD
Must be to do wi Arsenic.
BMCUWP
You are likelyright but I honestly can’t remember the word or it’s spelling.
MWD
If you want to read about Sevco ie,King , Scott,Johnson,then do so on there blogs,not on here,I’m not interested in one bit about them,as for the forward at St Mirren , Morgan,I watched the game yesterday,I think that’s his level,not good enough for Celtic, surely there must be some youngsters,up in Lennoxtown,who are just as good ,or better than Morgan,if there is and he can’t break through to the first team,then obliviously there faces don’t fit.
MOONBEAMSWD
Last time I had flu was about 25 years ago,in London. Trip to the supermarket,then straight home.
Locked myself in my bedroom wi the bottle of whisky I’d bought,put the extra duvet on,sweated it out. My bedroom was like a sauna,but it was Thanksgiving next day,and my US lass was hosting the meal,I didn’t want to miss it.
I could barely eat a thing. She was not a happy bunny girl,but I’d bumped into one of her friends the previous day who backed me up.
Still didn’t end that well.
MOONBEAMSWD
I’ll need to JFGI,then. Personally it sounds to me like a made up word. You know what them lawyers are like.
Jimbob.
What attracts me to the blog is the diversity.
I have been educated by so many people on here, in all sorts of topics.
South Of Tunis and his songs of the day are a real highlight for me.
If the blog becomes less diverse then that would be a sad day, in my opinion.
MOONBEAMSWD
Seems there’s a few. Them lawyers have a lot to answer for.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/words-with-all-five-vowels-in-order