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
- »
Gerry Cinnamon=Totally average
SFTB
Sorry to hear you’re not well – whereabouts are you? I’d happily help with the bucket collection too if it meant getting to see Danny McGrain flying the flag! Oops, sorry if that’s rubbing it in a bit!
you can email me at steverily74@hotmail.com
D66
HAIL HAIL
Great to get the new season underway
The reporting of the fighting over ibrokes way in the last couple of days tells us all we need to know about the police and MSM in Scotland .
If it had happened at CP I am sure the reporting and police statements would be very different indeed .
Although I think they have realized that we are wise to the old chelsea fans excuse but the worrying thing is that they are now peddling it is celtic fans in the away crowd now .
There new club in now toxic and heading the way of the old dead club but the pandering to the bigots in their support by DK and his media poodles is sewing a bitter seed that IMO will lead to more people being attacked when sevco 2012 sinks beneath the waves
Anyway for today
C’MON THE HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS
BMCUWP I know how it works in this cesspit of a country, having seen it in the workplace numerous times over my working life.
I try not to let it upset me (much) anymore. Also I am in a position to change things a wee small bit for the better in my work.
HH
D. :)
On the Grampian Emerald bus ( one of two from here today ) for the first time, about to hit the road. Butterflies are already on the move at the prospect of being back in Paradise to see The Bhoys again ???????
BMCUWP I meant i understand how people get upset having seen workplace bigotry.
D. :)
Goooooood Morning CQN – ???????
Only 6hrs until a world class and real hero Daniel Fergus McGrain
unfurls the flag ???
What a start to our season seeing Danny back on our pitch
SFTB, sorry to hear you ain’t well, and going to miss this
Mahe – you stay safe, and look after those Ghirls ( wife and daughter)
Right – what shade of green to wear today ?
Hail Hail
BMCUW
You said it all for me there. Govt, Police and media are complicit in the National Shame. I read the Record online article (5th item down). Nowhere does it mention ‘Rangers fans’, but deliberately gets the ‘Croatian yobs’ agenda across.
Its no wonder the Hun support haven’t moved on since rampaging through Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Barcelona, Birmingham, Manchester and many other cities, over six decades. They have gotten away with murder here and always will.
Scotland’s shame indeed, and not just the football club.
Their sense of entitlement is outstripped only by their sense of impunity.
rhey can’t help themselves, even the ones who are meant to be educated..
Who on here hasn’t had a snide remark if they turn up to work in green?
This is despite the fact that you wear blue 90 % of the time in work
Just give them a knowing grin
Faith of our Fathers
BT
Ive got loads of stories like that. I work in a college and a few years ago went to the stationery office to ask for board markers of assorted colours. I was told rather embarrassingly by the clerk that they were awaiting a delivery of stuff and had only one colour left. She opened the cabinet and showed me about ten boxes of unopened green markers.
This was a place (demographic changed dramatically in the last ten years) where staff would happily tell you about their Honours and Masters degrees etc but many still remained uneducated.
BT
I regularly wear bright green colours to work
Confuses them when I wear a blue and white, even a touch of red in this – shirt ???
Looking at the events over in streets of Ibrox this week and the media/police reaction to it … it is truly amazing that we have found ourselves in a position of power in Scotland.
Racism and bigotry alive and kicking all around us.
Paul’s generation of dominance is here!
Stay united.
Frank Terry
Your e-mail address has come back as undeliverable. Do you have the contact of any other CQNr that we may know in common. I don’t want to give my address out online but I am in the Cambuslang area.
If you can get a reliable e-mail or text to me (via someone like BT, HT, BMCUW, crc or TBB or others, we can get this exchange going
Philbhoy 8.26am
Hope your good lady has a magic night and the whole family & friends have a great time
PR67 / Angelgabriel no market inn fit me today daughter & granddaughter playing the emotional card (i.e. pulling rank)
Couponeers got the emails this morning but no access to send email until I get decent wi-fi, surprised I could post on here not been on the blog for a few days will send ma pick in a hour or two
Everybody else enjoy your Celtic experience today at the game or whatever corner of the universe your in
Hail Hail
Frank Terry
e-mail re-sent- there may have been a typo
FrankTerry
I have SFTB mob number if email doesn’t go through
blantyretim1@aol.co.uk
Norrie M…
Despite my blog name, only one Shade of Green should be worn to the football mate….
???
H.H..
Oooops apologies
Mrs Philbhoy – enjoy your wee surprise, and being spoilt by mr Philbhoy & daughter ???
Hail Hail
Can’t wear that green t- shirt, wore that to work yesterday ☹️
50 shades
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oTDS9ur_U
Enjoy ???
Good morning,
Delighted and thrilled to see my all time favourite Celtic player Danny McGrain will unfurl the flag at Paradise today. A truly world class player, courageous, intelligent and brilliant captain. Hope you and your family enjoy your day Danny, well deserved.
HH Dan
Norrie…
Cheers for that, great wee song to start the day off,..???
GFTB
No problem mhate catch up someother time HH !!
Scott McKenna?
Anyway, looking at the SPFL tv deal and our negotiating position I wonder if we have ever looked at joining up selling tv rights as a collaborative joint deal with our old Atlantic league compadres?
If you look at the Danish , Belgian and Portuguese tv deals our deal is vastly undervalued when you compare our European performance in relation to those other leagues. Although English teams are mostly shown to pee their tv income against the wall, a possible 300% uplift in tv income would add substantial funds to clubs like Aberdeen and Hibs. Think what they could do with an additional 2 or 3 million a season?
There may also be merit in Scottish clubs jointly selling tv rights to European qualifiers? Much like the idea of joint tv rights above you will have the large more attractive partner moaning that they should get more from the deal – I agree for obvious reasons but a formula could be agreed that recognised that we need other Scottish sides to do well in Europe. Tv payouts from the total pot would be based on audience and coeff points gathered.
MULLET&CO
Pretty sure that Celtic rarely sell TV rights for qualifier ties. Preference is for bums on seats to provide the required atmosphere.
SFTB
Try steveriley instead of steverily…………..just a guess.
HH
I’ve watched the footage. Where were the police?
It’s common knowledge the ibrox support are high risk yet this violence occurs in the vicinity of the stadium.
Visiting fans coming to our ground on euro nights are given a full escort whether required or not.
One would hope the policing or lack of is not their response to a recent budget busting repeal and some real focus should be applied to the lack of ‘football intelligence’ recently.
The police operation however does not excuse the appalling violence but only reinforces the point others have made that what occurred is neither new nor surprising and has been common practice on the streets of Glasgow for decades. Scotlands shame indeed.
cv
PR67
Was looking forward to a couple of hours and a bit of Celtic chat but we are only here Friday-Monday
Cheers for the info on Market Inn, hopefully will be used some time in the future, wife & daughter love it down here
So if CQN rumours are true we are resting KT and maybe Broonie today, that makes my attempt at picking the team a bit more difficult ( no laughing at the back).
So here goes…
Cragie G…
MIK. JACK AND AJER..
JAMSIE ,,, CAL MAC,, OLLIE,, KOUASSIE,,SINKY.
TOM.. .EDDIE ..
…..
BIG TOM just in behind Eddie, with Ollie or
CalMac playing just in front of the mids..
However if Brendan plays Gamboa on the right of midfield and plays Jamsie left with Sinky on the bench I would be happy with that also.
H.H
SFTB and Frank Terry,
Mail me lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lennybhoy
Good talking to you in the Kerrydale in May.
Say hi to Marspapa
HH from Toronto.
SFTB and Frank Terry,
Mailed Frank your moby number.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
WEET WEET WEET
Hope your physio is going well .
six or so weeks in STOBHILL , ……. it wasn’t you that set it on fire ,WIZ IT ? lol.
Anyhoo , Celtic back on the road again , hope we’re in for another remarkable season .
Enjoy the journey lads COYBIG
TEUCHTER ÁR LÁ on 4TH AUGUST 2018 10:07 AM
And you mate and I will pass on your regards to Marsala.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
A bit of a feastival or experience of bigotry on the site today.
My worse experience of discrimination in this country is when I was told I had to have a Roman Catholic bishop APPROVE me for a job working in the public sector.
An example of state sponsored religious discrimination which forces non-catholics to to commit to upholding the Catholic Charter in order to get a job.
Scotland’s Shame indead. However, something many on here support or turn a blind eye to. Pot and kettle!
QF
How come police Scotland have always got their wee video cameras with them to film Celtic supporters peacefully enjoying watching their team, yet when there’s mass rioting, damage to property, attempted murder and sectarianism/ racism on the streets, they have to appeal to the public for evidence.
Is “police Scotland are appealing to the public for mobile or dashcam footage” secret Masonic code for “listen guys, unless some fenian grasses yees up, yer in the clear.”
QF
If you know your history you will know the reason for having catholic education in Scotland
NorrieM, Lennybhoy, BT, BMCWP and TAL, – Greetings from Toronto. I’ll be home Monday for a bit of sclaffbaw and fingers crossed see the famous Glasgow Celtc. Where is PFayr?
TAL – Will I see you at the club today?
Slainte
Tony
Rumoured starting 11
3-4-2-1
Gordon
Lustig Ajer Simunovic
Forrest Brown Ntcham Hayes
Rogic McGregor
Edouard