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.
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Lustig, Simunovic, Hayes and Rogic the four changes from Wednesday. Hendry, KT, Gamboa and Sinclair drop out.
Would expect Griffiths on the bench.
From the BBC…re robbery at McCoist’s favourite bakery…
The first suspect is described as white and of thin build. (Def not cheeky chappy) He was wearing a blue hooded top, pale blue jeans and black trainers.
The second suspect was wearing a blue hooded top and jeans.
Both men had blue scarves covering their faces.
Good job they weren’t wearing green…
Today’s leaked line up ??
Gordon
Lustig
Ajer
Simunovic
Forrest
Brown
Ntcham
Hayes
Rogic
McGregor
Edouard
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 4TH AUGUST 2018 12:01 PM
From the BBC…re robbery at McCoist’s favourite bakery…
The first suspect is described as white and of thin build. (Def not cheeky chappy) He was wearing a blue hooded top, pale blue jeans and black trainers.
The second suspect was wearing a blue hooded top and jeans.
Both men had blue scarves covering their faces.
Good job they weren’t wearing green…
They would have found them by now…
If we lived in a tolerant society that accepted people based on their own merits rather than their cultural identity etc…. we would not have an issue with racism or bigotery, the fact is scotland has a very long history of haters and policies that act to establish the majority population as superior with all new comers some how tainted as second class.
A white or black racist a catholic or protestent bigot in isolation is to be condemned no matter which way it flows, but so long as you have a majority 85% in scotland who think its ok to discriminate against a minority than you will have a a portion in that group that will grow up with hater and anger.
The two issues are not the some. You cant addressing the problem by saying one is as bad as another. The fact is we will not move forward until scotland’s majority is confortable with people not being the some.
I am proud of my irish background as are many people. I am sure there are people of asian and african background etc.. Who are also proud of their background. However in scotland its not ok to be proud of you history and your present unless.
HH
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the scottish football league
They come from bonnie Scotland, they come from county Cork,
They come from dear old Donegal and even from New York,
From every street in Glasgow they proudly make their way,
To a place called dear old paradise and this is what they say.
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
There’s Fallon, Young and Gemmell who proudly wear the green,
There’s Clark, McNeill and Kennedy the best there;s ever been,
Jim Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, John Divers and John Hughes,
And sixty thousand Celtic fans who proudly sing the news.
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
repeat to fade CSC
The ole Iron Horse is all stoked up and heading out to pick up Fred C Dodds. Lets hope he makes it to Paradise gulch before the Commanche’s make their way over from the Sioux side….see what I did there.
HH
MONTHEHOOOOOOPS!!!
Upwards and onwards and a huge HH to our mascot today who has crossed the pond to be here.
Lucky sod,and a day he’ll never forget.
FSTB from earlier too true mate, and I fear for our 800 comrades who will attend the bigotdome this season.
HH
D. :)
Ffs a UK that cannot have a Catholic as head of its monarchy….. Start with that.
Come on you bhoys in green
D. :)
Right, aff oot to chop wood until kick- off.
C’ mon Boaby, spill the beans :-)
“Glad it was the Croatians that got stabbed,and not any of our own.Shame it was not their tongues that got slashed for their mouthing off.Put right in their place.Papist loving scum”
“Nobody was murdered?FFS,we need to sharpen up.”
“A few more slashings would have helped them remember their trip to Ibrox.
A few of the posts from Scum Media.
I really hope there is a warm welcome awaiting them in Maribor.
TEUCHTERARLA
Mail you in a mo.
Stupid ignorant people come in all shapes, flavours and sizes. It’s instinctive.
Easily led, herds, loosely bound together by someone striking the chord of fear.
All it takes is a Pied piper to play the tune.
Once again,if the team rumours are true,no idea why Broony is being risked today.Brendan said he is carrying an Achilles injury.Why not rest him up for AEK?
Has the world gone bloody mad?
Maybe its me,too much Sun.
TURKEYBHOY
Those posts are vile,and prosecution should follow.
On the road again.
We’re on our way to Paradise.
Daniel Fergus McGrain Fly the Flag.
YNWA
Seventh flag…seventh heaven…suck it up Charlie Adam…
EUROCHAMPS
i’ll do my best , but there is really no need to thank me mate , it’s what we do ( Celtic fans , empathy by the bucket loads )… great that your well enough to attend the games with your friends ;))
JOBO are the doors set to auto yet ……
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BMCUW
Not a chance.
A wee while back one of there websites had a thread openly “encouraging them to stab Celtic supporters. It was reported to the authorities. Zilch.
I’ve had occasion to phone Police Scotland to avert trouble. Incredibly ended up debating with the call centre person why I found the songs offensive.
It’s endemic, allowed and condoned. I’m reminded of a recent issue in the COPFS in which two workers were dismissed,. Incredibly “A third, who had a senior managerial role, was given a final written warning”.
Wonder how the two whistle-blowers feel working under that management ?
As others have pointed out hate is endemic here, it is still a path to “success” and the upper echelons of influence in Scotland.
Dallas Dallas
And a shout out for this fine CQN’r missing his all time favourite Celtic legend Danny McGrain
but allowing another in the wider family to take his seat, and see flag 7 being unfurled.
Hail Hail
BIGCUPWINNERS
Pish,innit?
The stories we could tell-and they just say so what?
The late lamented THEBARCAMOLE used to spin a good yarn about victimisation. All of it true.
He was amazed that I wasn’t surprised-till I pointed out that my uncle and my Dad were blacklisted same reason same time.
Very strange the demographics involved in that,innit?
ST TAMS
Welcome aboard again,dont be a stranger.:))))
DanielFergusCSC.
Long time lurker, former weather reporter, Happy Papa and definitely not, and never have been, a moderator!
Can I come back in to play, please?
Well it’s beyond pish.
Sipsini (I thnk it was) wrote something about businesses here suffering, simply because the best person for the job was spurned because he went to the wrong school.
JOBO BALDIE on 4TH AUGUST 2018 1:09 PM
NAW.weather never changes now so you are not needed.
when does last man standing start.
Good man yerself Jobo, welcome back.
HH. ??
Brendan Rodgers is considerably more intelligent than Steven Gerrard.
HH. ?
welcome back Jobo – hot and sunny way down south in Biddulph
16 ROADS. on 4TH AUGUST 2018 1:15 PM
so’ s chick young.
JOBOBALDIE
I most humbly apologise and welcome you back with open arms and open heart.
HH
on the little tin horse with rubber wheels heading to vale park – rest assured i’ll be looking for GG updates every few minutes
fredcdobbsCSC
Good read
https://tirnaog09.blogspot.com/
Welcome back Jobo????
On Iron Horse heading to Paradise.
Hail Hail.
JOBO BALDIE on 4TH AUGUST 2018 1:09 PM
Welcome Hame sir you were missed(a lot)
Favourite Uncle – ha ha, CRC’s yer man for the competitions now, I’m afraid that I’ve permenantly flounced from those helping duties.
BMCUW – Thank you and let’s move on to EIGHT in a row.
Gene, Smyth and anyone else – please don’t dumb down the blog with any more ‘welcomes’. Kin we no jus’ move oan ;-). There’s the fitba’ to focus on.