When Celtic won their first 7-in-a-row by a 10-point margin in 1972, there was scarcely a cloud on the horizon. The also collected the Scottish Cup that season, lost the European Cup semi-final on penalties and, but for a mishap against Partick Thistle in the League Cup final, would have completed their third treble.
A year later, the league-winning margin was cut to a single point and although 9-in-a-row was famously achieved in 1974, the seventh consecutive title would be the last truly dominant Celtic league win for 16 years.
Jock Stein’s team of the mis-70s was vulnerable in ways your Celtic team of today is not. Stein was brilliant and changed everything about Scottish football when he arrived at Celtic in 1965, but the longer he stayed, the closer his rivals could ape his methods.
At Sean Fallon’s funeral Mass, Alex Ferguson mentioned that he and his wife would deliberately go to the same restaurant Jock and Sean dined at on a Saturday evening, so that the young Rangers player could quiz them both on the game. It was a school day for Ferguson. People watched Celtic, copied their tactics, scouting and preparations. By 1974 Stein’s advantage was gone.
This interpretation of Scottish football history was clear in 1997, when Rangers matched Celtic’s “9”. Their golden era was not the consequence of a radically different manager, but of sheer financial power, power that unlike Stein’s in 1974, remained in place as Rangers planned for 10-in-a-row.
There has been little consistency across our current 7-in-a-row. Three managers and countless players (not the 44 used in league campaigns between 1965 and 1974). If you were to try to match the current Celtic formula for success, you would attempt to replicate their scouting, sports science and maybe their playing style, but most of all, you would need a business plan that produces income which can, on occasion, reach £100m.
Like Rangers in 1997, Celtic today have a financial advantage over all others in Scottish football. Unlike Rangers in 1997, Celtic do not have anyone readying themselves to match their investment in the team. While Fergus McCann and Jock Brown were busy signing Henrik Larsson and the like, no one in Scotland can come close to matching Celtic’s £9m investment in Odsonne Eduard, or their £52m wage bill.
Nor should they. Under Fergus, Celtic worked their way close to Rangers turnover. By 1997 there was still a gap, but it was bridgeable without putting the club into peril. Even without Champions League football, other clubs are years away from getting to within striking distance of Celtic.
This position of strength is a consequence of professionalism throughout the club. Look around as you walk up Celtic Way tomorrow. Picture in your mind the next stage of the regeneration of the old place, with the hotel to your left, and a museum and visitor centre.
That Champions League income is important, but we have been busy in the background. The cumulative value of the Dafabet shirt sponsorship deal that was signed BEFORE Brendan Rodgers appointment and revolution in 2016 was worth as much as a Champions League group stage qualification. The renewal of Dafabet’s sponsorship for seven years, announced this morning, is worth an absolute fortune. Add to that, New Balance, the Magners sponsorship on the back and other key partnerships with Eden Mill, Intelligent Car Leasing and others, and you see a football club underpinned by strong finances, before it sells a season ticket or scores a goal.
One Saturday night In the early 1990s (not on a match day), at the Walfrid Restaurant, our table was served a main course without potatoes. The spuds duly appeared with the sweet.
This is an obscure observation to trouble you with today, but it encapsulated everything about Celtic of that era. We didn’t have the organisational knowledge to server potatoes with the chicken instead of the carrot cake. How could we hope to recruit, develop and tactically deliver success on the football field?
There are reasons why potatoes came with the carrot cake – it is not because the kitchen staff didn’t know better, just as there are reasons why we are ‘knocking it out the park’, on, and off, the park these days. Getting things right in any organisation is not quick, easy or cheap. It takes planning, training and several iterations of learning from mistakes. We were a shambles. We are now a thoroughly professional outfit in every area we operate. Look at what our commercial team are achieving in contrast to what happens elsewhere.
That is why we are going to win the league this season. It’s why we will win “10” and it is why we will continue to win successive titles for the rest of your life. This success is not built upon the wisdom of Jock Stein or Brendan Rodgers, it is a consequence of planning to win, and never lose again. Ever.
While Peter Lawwell is hugely important in the operation, it goes well beyond him now. You will find the same unforgiving demands at every corporate contact point. These commercial deals take the risk out of making expensive managerial appointments.
I have concerns about our prospects against AEK Athens – a stronger opponent than we are capable of facing in the fourth qualification round. The chances of a third consecutive treble should also be given perspective. We have escaped ‘one of those days’ in two years of cup competitions, that does not mean we are immune from them.
Champions League football may or may not happen this season, but we will not collapse “like a pack (sic) of cards” if we miss out. The show will go on, because we have planned for such an eventuality. Average attendances will hover a touch below capacity, we will continue to improve.
If you are too young to know how special tomorrow’s Flag Day is, bore yourself talking to an auld yin’ for a while. This success has been worked on for decades. It is a result of denial and restraint, while lemmings were heading for the cliff. It is a milestone in history. It is a beacon that shines a green light far beyond Celtic Park. It is a wonderful thing.
Enjoy it.
552 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- »
Saint Stivs
Agree wi FB. Think Rod Stewart murders Grace. Terrible version. Cannae go Rod Stewart’s music, so maybe I am a bit biased.
Tom Jones & Rhiannon Giddens – St. James Infirmary Blues [HD] Jools’ Annual Hootenanny 2015/16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhVT0fx3rFs
and so to bed
7 in a row..
blessed
!!BADA BING!! on 3RD AUGUST 2018 7:32 PM
NB – Hamburg boss Cristian Titz has started ex Sevco David Bates tonight…
Frankiehowerdcsc
…………………..
Made me laugh out loud. ?
St Stivs @ 1.13…now that brought a lump to my throat. My wee mammy, who passed away a few months ago, that was her party piece…ever since I was a kid she would sing that song…
thanks for posting it…
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
To absent friends.
DD-hey you,rod is a flipping god,love him,bucket list to see him in Las Vegas ???
ACGR
Are you through in Discoland tomorrow for Danny and the flag? Need to see you soon bro.
YNWA
FB
Rod is a poor man’s Kelly Jones. ?
Jim McCann sings the best Grace in my opinion ???
Jim McCann nailed Grace. No comparisons FB.
Hope you and your dad enjoy Paradise as much as I am going to today.
God bless you both.
YNWA
DD-Kelly is to Rod what Fergie is to Jock.Always respectful and in aur (spelling)???
Off to bed. I’ve enjoyed catching up on the blog tonight. Really looking forward to tomorrow’s game and the flag being raised by the great Danny McGrain, Celtic hero and world class right back. Love him.
Good night all.
Hail! Hail!
YNWA
KTF
COYBIG
FB
Listen to both versions of Handbags and Gladrags. Kelly’s voice destroys Rod’s weak effort.
YNWA
DD-nice one mate,have a good day Garry???
DD-to be honest Kelly does that song proud,but can he sing it live in his 60’s ???
FB
Thanks pal.
Tiochfaidh ar la
FB
Kelly will be singing in the valleys in his 90s hopefully. Great Welsh Bhoyo
DCI Willison, if the perpetrators of the stabbings are in fact found to be from Northern Ireland, are they still deemed to be “Scottish”?
Stop trying to deflect blame.
Good singer,but could live to his 90’s and still couldn’t touch ROD
So, it’s ok to have a wee attempted murder before a football game?
That mob are the lowest scum on this earth.
They’re only relevant and dangerous, because Celtic supporter’s justified and, rubber stamped they’re existence, when the first £49 old firm ticket was purchased by a Celtic supporter.
The Celtic PLC board won’t kill off Sevco, only Celtic supporter’s can do that, by emptying Celtic Park, sacking the old firm orientated PLC board, get a new board, appointed by Celtic supporter’s, not by shady billionaire’s, and do what needs to be done about Sevco / Rangers, and the SFA’s reluctance, or fear to deal with this hate filled toxicity.
My fear is that, Celtic supporter’s will be killed before the above is addressed.
Celtic supporter’s have to look themselves in the mirror and ask, “Did I deal with the Rangers issue the way that I should have? Or, did I put self preservation, before the right thing? ”
Human frailty afflicts us all, but, its never too late to do the right thing.
Hail! Hail! to all Celts.
Bye.
Friends,,,many thanks for the concern earlier but I feel it was a bit unwarranted. The fires arent in my area to be clear.
The baby woke up coughing today which we can only put down to having very smokey air last couple weeks. Biggest hassle is no fresh air,,the windows stay closed constantly and you cant/shouldnt go outside if possible.
But today was on a different level,,looked as if fog had rolled in it was that bad.
These fires are hours away to the north mind so it seems overnight there was a shift in wind which brought it south.
The wife agreed to work a half day and get outta dodge with us to friends who live further east and at 6000 feet . When I first phoned them early this morning they said it was mild to moderate but yes come up as its certainly no where near what you are going through and the baby needs some fresh air.
5 hours later after packing the suv and about to split they call to say that visibility has declined there and they can literally see a bank of smoke heading their way.
I look outside and its actually getting better so the decision was made to stay put and invite the friends here if it gets very bad for them.
Each day could bring different results. We arent even in peak fire season yet,,this is of epic proportions so far. Most times theres a warning,,of course the news but usually a helicopter with loud speaker will blast the area .
The firefighter brother in law hasnt been home in over 5 weeks and counting,,24 hours on ,,24 hours off. We lost a firefighter in Yosemite last week when a tree fell on him. Very dangerous job here. God bless them .
Thanks again guys. Hail Hail
MAHETHEMADMAN
I’m just glad you’re safe,and more importantly that your firefighter brother-in-law is safe too(!) Canny beat having an expert in the family.
Seriously,long may that paragraph remain the case.
Look after the girls,mate.
HH
Re the shocking events on Thursday,this line stuck out from the DR report.
“Croatian yobs were seen rampaging through streets near Ibrox, attacking passersby.”
As far as I am aware,there are numerous reports and videos of events online. There are even a few comments from police. Nowhere have I read or seen anything which suggests the above to be the case.
Really shameful “reporting.”
Bmcuwp Bbc news ‘Police are also trying to determine who started the violence’ as if that’s relevant. Shameful reporting on a shameful incident in a shameful country. ‘Scotland’s Shame’ indeed. Hh
Mark Dingbat blames Police and Croatian fans for the stabbings. Says it all.
Mahe
Take care pal..
OK- I have been battling illness all night- vomiting, dry-baoling and not being able to sleep for more than 5 minutes before I am racked with coughing and need to get up. I have reached the conclusion that I am not getting to go today to the game.
If anybody can use the SB and pick it up from here- It will go to a good cause (need it back for Wednesday mind).
I’m also having to call off from the Bucket Collection which is even more shameful, but I really would just be spreading germs. Whose gonna want to give money to a guy who is dry boaking every half hour.
I’ve decided just to stay up now so I will check if anyone can use the ticket and whether it can be picked up by arrangement.
I am gutted in more ways than one.
dry- baoling is dry-boaking. My keyboard has the flu.
SFTB
Same thing spread through my office last couple of weeks . I missed it, must be all the meds I’m on..
Hope u are better soon and hope someone can fill the void at the bucket collection for you
SETTINGFREETHEBEARS
Get well soon,bud. Sounds bliddy awful.
Btw,I hope your SB is germ-free(!)
HH
GORDON64
Honest reporting-
Police and media sources are trying to piece together information which allows them to blame the victims as usual. Ongoing investigation.
BMCUWP
Got a surprise 60th tonight for my good lady.
Canny wait!
Hope you are well!
SFTB and BT I had it Monday to Thursday, murder when in meetings and having to run to the loo.
Hope you get better soon.
BMCUWP does anything really surprise us regarding this tribute act and thier defenders (Police
Ffs this feckin iPad just posted a half finished post wtf
Aaaaaggggghhhhhh
Anyway come on the hoops
By the way good morning CQN from a dry Garngad
HH
D. :)
PHILBHOY
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
Mrs Dorian Gray!!!!!!
60,wow. Hope you both have a wonderful day!!!
HH
DAVID66
Sadly,no. Nothing ever changes. Huns get away with murder because the police don’t do their job,police get away with murder because the media don’t do theirs.
Politicians turn a blind eye too,as they get keen on the snout in the trough.
Thanks Bobby!
Her birthday was on Thursday when we were in Crete on holiday.
She thinks we are going to a nearby hotel for dinner tonight.
I’ll keep you posted!