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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JUNGLE LURKER-I’ve got mine and my dads tickets for the Huns game up in 416?And I bet he could tell you a few stories about the good old days ???
The closer to ten in a row the more angry the huns will get bringing more violence.
I agree with posters saying…tell them to stick their 800 tickets where the sun don’t shine.
I know from experience coming back from ipox the hatred running throw their veins and that was in the nineties.
It seems like the Dark Side has been re-energised.
Up to the same stuff.
All the violence is going with them, they probably think it is the 2nd returning of the Beast.
I was in work last night (shipyard) and a few dudes were at the game and talking oblivious that I could hear them. They were saying the Croatian fans were attacking everyone and anyone they could see and they were drinking in the Gallowgate before the game.
This was 22:30ish. The propaganda on their websites must be so very intense.
Dave King has been stirring them up for so long now. Utterly reprehensible Human Being.
Just Win Celtic.
TONYROME-I got told it’s getting a black makeover.My sis had her opp 5weeks ago and is slowly getting on her feet again mate,baby steps the surgeon told her.We lost our big cousin Allison last week and that was a sore one ,Blantyre lost a good yin.Thanks for asking make its much appreciated ???
KT’s poster on Nelson st …some stupid feker has painted his strip shitey blue,as if ? I reckon
10 billion ginger bottles wouldn’t be enough.hh
DD-if only mate,if only eh ???
Make = mate obviously ???
fairhill bhoy glad your sister is getting better..hh.
Park Road.
If you’re still in , or if GFTB , is still in the Market, I could catch you up for a couple of scoops after the game. I should be back between 6, & 6.30 , if the trains are ok .
Be good to hook up .
Ask for the Wolf , when your in , he will see you ok .
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GARCIA LORCA on 3RD AUGUST 2018 8:17 PM
Greetings from an exceptionally hot Seville. Even hotter than a memorable night in 2003.
Thoughts turn to Parkhead for tomorrow’s flag day and to absent friends.
For the avoidance of any doubt these are very special times in the history of our club.
Don’t allow anyone to deflect the magnitude of what has been built at Celtic.
▂▃▅▇█▓▒░۩۞۩ ۩۞۩░▒▓█▇▅▃▂
Absent friends
Hail Hail
BP1-thank you,a long road but she’ll get there.much appreciated ???
VP
Awe naw
It’s no an Everton tap is it? ?
The Book by Zbigniew Brzerzinski…. Of Two Ages……..
I think he commented about Weather Control by 2018.
Z (he has since met his maker) how about cooling down Scotland.
Awful working conditions when you are a bit overweight, wearing overalls and its muggy as hell.
Onto Brighter things.
CELTIC
Onwards to a Great Eight, Hopefully – PAUL67 WTF is the arrogance in this article all about.
Sorry dude, The Almighty could put the Greatest Manager Ever in Any Scottish team…. At Any Time.
Not the best report I’ve read.
BSR,
Yer Bro (and others) will be Smiling and Hoping Celtic can get a Tremendous Eighth Title in a Row.
GCC
Allow it
FAIRHILL BHOY on 3RD AUGUST 2018 7:50 PM
!!BADA BING-played golf at Dalziel today with someone close to KT.Just dropped them at the CV????????
FAIRHILL BHOY on 3RD AUGUST 2018 7:53 PM
!!BADA BING-but he is a prick?Right????
You lost me amigo?
sipsini on 3rd August 2018 8:27 pm
The closer to ten in a row the more angry the huns will get bringing more violence.
I agree with posters saying…tell them to stick their 800 tickets where the sun don’t shine.
I know from experience coming back from ipox the hatred running throw their veins and that was in the nineties.
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I don’t think the feckin players are safe never mind the fans. That lot have lost it and the reason, as James Forrest so rightly points out, is the feckin Media, Civic Scotland, the SFA/SPFL and the Polis are all cowardly hun bastards who pander to the victim mentality. Talk about schizophrenic – “WATP/No-on likes us we don’t care” v Blah blah blah boycott this boycott that, we’ve been hard done to yada yada yada….
An absolute shower of right wing, ignorant, low life scum, GIRFUT!
Sid1888…zat you sitting on the fence again?
!!BADA BING -I played golf today with KT’s dad and my work mate who’s a good pal of Mick’s.Thats where my rumours started ?Anyway dropped them at carfin vaults ???.Then you mentioned novo and I asked is he a prick though ?.Sorry for confusing you mate,reading this I’m confused now#soap ???
ANGELGABRIEL
I would be gone by 6 mhate need to be back down the road sharpish on Saturday night , hopefully next time !!
The main BBC Scotland website is running a story: ‘Two Arrests at Serco Eviction Protest’.
How many arrests will there be at the Sevco eviction protest:-0
weebobbycollins on 3rd August 2018 9:06 pm
Aye I should have made my username Splinters :-)
Seriously though somebody is going to get killed by that mob because no-one in authority stands up to them.
feck me, they kettled the GB because they were vocal against the OBAF Act but they can run amok, espouse violent propaganda and march with impunity through our streets. They need called out and unless they are then the authorities are complicit. feckin stinks to High heaven!
hahahahaha The Hamburgers are getting burgered ,,,,,
smiley der deutsch ist stark mit der Holsteiners thing
Braw
Sid1888,
Their intent is now obvious.
They are Cowards.
Darkness follows the peepil.
Dave King is a nasty nasty piece of work.
Never forget that Division is the way the Dark Lord works.
What’s the thought process for a senior Police Scotland official to mention that “ Scottish fans & Croatian fans were involved in the incident ?
Meanwhile a work colleague mentioned that an in law of his invited him round to watch the football on tv last night. The relative works in the football intelligence unit, seemingly.
Seems like this particular member of Scotland’s finest was perplexed at trouble occurring at Ibrox. He said there’s less than 100 Croats due for the game.
Seemingly he was relieved that none were in at kick off or early in the game.
This was a sign that those responsible for the stabbings would be quickly apprehended.
I think the officer might have had the culprits and victims mixed up .
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 3RD AUGUST 2018 9:17 PM
& master got “pulled off” :))))
When humans control the weather but don’t understand the heat capacity of carbon dioxide. You couldn’t make this drivel up . Err yes you can. Bipolarism and hunnery come to mind
Park Road .
No problem. Some other time . HH
Goooooodd Evening CQN – ???????
And now going for ???????????
Be great to see the real legend Daniel Fergus McGrain unfurl the flag tomorrow ???
Now I listened to smooth radio this morning at 9 whilst driving to my work, they knew it was 2 Croatians who had been stabbed in Govan
And I would also question some of great professional club set up – could start with security & PR ?? Always room for improvement Paul67
How about our board standing up for it’s fans instead of creating diversionary troubles ?
Will not stop me from celebrating tomorrow ????????????
Hail Hail
Adi the Dazzler
your coming on strong …thing of the auld yins!
smiley crusty sock thing
Braw
Daniel Arzani underwent his Manchester City medical while in Melbourne ahead of a £280,000 (AU$500,000) transfer. Celtic will loan him for two seasons with an option to buy. Arzani turned down interest from Tottenham, Stade de Reims and Fortuna Dusseldorf to join City. [SBS]
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If he’s attending tomorrow he’s either up to sign or up to check the place out as he’s unsure.
Its Snowing
Its TRUOOOOO
Sorry missed
Mahe, hope all is well and your in safely away with your family
Hail Hail
Hi Bhoys
Do you think any naming rights to the stadium could be on a season to season basis and this year we could have “After Eight Stadium” . That would be minted.
KEEP THE FAITH
RIP Kirsty.
Hope KT and Ntcham are nowhere near it tomorrow, rest both. Simunovic nailed on to start. Kill the game ASAP and get Eddy off after an hour and Griff on for a runout.
Bain
Lustig Simunovic Ajer Hayes
Brown McGregor
Forrest Rogic Sinclair
Eddy
PARK ROAD 67
Have you been told to be in early tomorrow? ???
KEEP THE FAITH
AngelGabriel
Looks like the rest of the world are getting into Gerry Cinnamon. He is no longer our wee Glasgow secret. New single Sometimes smashing it across Europe now.
Gaun yerself the Bhoy fae the ‘Mulk.
YNWA
Lazy youtubing……
Coolio