My friends in Celtic, here we go, for nine-in-a-row! The consequences of what lies ahead are almost unbearable to contemplate. Win, and we match the proud record of Jock Stein’s team from the 60s and 70s and equalled by Rangers in the 90s. Lose, and until the end of time, Celtic fans will point to this season and wonder what went wrong.
In the mid-90s I attended a function with Billy McNeill and Tommy Burns the guest speakers. Billy looked at Tommy, who was then manager, and implored him to stop Rangers taking the record he and his team-mates won. It was an era with indignity piled on indignity. We were able to endure many setbacks – SIX YEARS without a trophy, but it was the feeling that our historical record could be violated that concerned us most.
History matters, records matter and in Scotland, no record matters as much as this one.
If it was all about the desire and money, SPFL chief exec. Neil Doncaster would be as well bringing the trophy along with him tomorrow, but football does not work like that and we have an example from relatively recent history to give cause for concern.
Having watched Rangers win nine-in-a-row, Fergus McCann sacked Tommy Burns, but he had not reckoned on spending two months trying to recruit a replacement. The players were back training two weeks before Wim Jansen, “the second worst thing to hit Japan” was unveiled.
Wim was a gift from God, but if he walked through Glasgow Airport on the morning of 3 July 1997 wearing a “New Celtic Manager” T-shirt, no one would have paid him any attention.
Rangers had every reason to expect the Holy Grail, 10-in-a-row, would be theirs, but in true David Murray style, they spent a fortune in an attempt to leave nothing to chance. Amoruso, Gattuso, Vidmar, Johansson, Porrini, Thern and, of course, Marco Negri, arrived in a show of financial muscle Scotland had not previously witnessed.
We took a first half lead in our opening league game of the season against Hibs, then lost. We held a halftime lead at home to Dunfermline in our next league game, but lost that one too. What had Fergus done? Meanwhile, inspired by Marco Negri, who was breaking scoring records, Rangers swept all before them.
It took a while, but Wim slowly steadied the ship, aided by a certain Swede and a large number of players recruited on the say of Jock Brown. David Murray, Walter Smith and all the filthy lucre they could put their hands on, could not stop Celtic winning the most cherished title in Scottish football history. Not only did we win the league after a decade, we preserved our name on the record books.
Why should we remember this today? Apart from the fact that any excuse is a good excuse to recall that season, we need to know that we have no divine right to win the league this or any season. Rangers spent lots of money, signed several excellent players, but things happened at Celtic which we had no right to expect. In the summer of ’97 we lost Pierre van Hooijdonk, Jorge Cadete and Paolo Di Canio. What happened made no sense, even today, I cannot explain how it happened, but Rangers would be stopped.
You and I have become immune to “The Rangers (sic.) are coming” mantra every summer. We know corporate Newco don’t really believe it, but it serves to put bums on seats better than “Come along and watch Celtic win xxx-in-a-row, we’ll try to keep Leigh Griffiths away from the goalposts.” It is pantomime, and we are right to not take it seriously, but there is an existential threat.
It goes like this. Steven Gerrard did better than expected in his first season in management and will do even better with the experience in his locker. They retained the bulk of their squad and spent a year scouting players who have arrived this summer.
By contrast, Celtic lost their managerial totem and appointed Neil Lennon, who has to deal with the pressure of sky-high expectation. We lost Boyata and Benkovic. The shadow of Moussa Dembele is still evident, with Arsenal sniffing around our prized prodigy. Scott Brown is a year older and all of our new arrivals are as-yet untested. Lose at Ibrox on 1 September, and the weight of the world will descent on the Comments pages here, as well as at Celtic Park.
There is a key difference between the Celtic of 2019 and the Rangers of 1997. Celtic are a thoroughly professional operation, with skilled operators at every level. The board know there is a chance, however slim, that Newco could turn up their own version of Larsson, Jansen and, erm, Blinker. They know that this cannot be a ‘Best endeavours’ season. Neil Lennon is planning for the unlikely, in order to prevent the unthinkable.
The cold facts are, we have better players than anyone else in the country. We have a manager who knows how to win leagues, “has an eye for a player”, and who slipped back into successful ways better than many expected.
We have already spent £12m this summer and will continue to spend, without the need to bring money in, or qualify for the Champions League. The manager will also have funds to fill gaps which emerge in January.
Celtic are as dominant as they have been in their 131 years. The stadium is sold out for most games and you have been unable to buy a season ticket for weeks (availability remains at ALL other grounds in Scotland, if you are looking for options). Our commercial deals are competitive with any similar club in Europe. Wages escalated alarmingly under Brendan but we are not over paying or at risk, there is money in the bank and talent on the field.
Having got into this position, we need to deliver this season and next, then build a monument to 10. Something big, that will serve as a tourist attraction for decades to come. And when we’re all in our old age, we can point to it and say to the kids, “I was there!”
Enjoy the season!
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If we sell KT for £25m then we only need another £5m for more or less
😉
Kidding aside where is KT regarding his injury / fitness
Why don’t you understand that post?
Maybe i’m an aul ghuy who knows the value of loyalty to a family
who idolise you, who know if you desert them for riches elsewhere
then you’re not the person we should have put our faith in.
KT is going nowhere.
H.H Mick
The Sky advert for the new season is a joke,thought it was for Sevco TV….
MELBOURNE MICK on 2ND AUGUST 2019 2:32 PM
Sincerely hope you are right.
If not , then I know that KT is ours , whether he plays for us or not.
Some guys better get used to the idea that KT is going…….
I reckon KT is staying. What a Mega Boost that’ll be.
The Press are desperate for him to go.
The Window shuts sooner in England.
KT is put on the Celtic bench when there is no way for him to play at the midden – dinnae understand that but he is Mega for the Celts.
Bada
Spot on – surprised they squeezed us in with the trophy – which should have ended the ad , but no let’s have the Hun waving scarves
MACJAY1/BADA BING
Lets wait and see, my faith says Kieran love for Celtic is as
strong as Big Billy’s, Bobby’s, Tommy’s, Paul’s and many others.
H.H Mick
KT is a Celtic man and always will be.
But I think he is going – for football and financial reasons. Its a short career at best (look at John Kennedy) and yes he is handsomely paid already but the chance to secure more for his long term future, his family, as well as play in a top league is probably too much to turn down. And get away from the leg breaking challenges in the SPFL. That said the sooner he goes the sooner he returns on a Bosman IMO :)
HH
The Donald`s mum .
Converses in her native tongue .
Gallic.
The Irish have JFK.
We have the Donald.
Truly Celtic influence in USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yk0OB30M1A
Hoping to be wrong but reading between the lines it looks more likely than not.
HH
KT needs to test himself at a higher level than the SPFL,he will become an even better player, playing with and against better players, he will do 4 years then come back on a Bosman to captain Celtic.
🎶 24 hours until we fly the flaaaaaag, fly the fla-ag…🎶
i get the happy clappers mantra, but to be so patronising, cmon
KT will go, for whatever reason doesnt matter, its what we do once he’s gone, if its Boli Boli then its Boli Boli and we’ll go with that.
Re the 9
Concentrate on winning our games and let the rest take points off each other.
It’s what we do that counts…we can’t blame anyone else but ourselves. Let’s do our job right on the park..I’m comfortable where we are and I am expecting more than 10.
Optimistic Tim 🍀🍀🍀
TRADIONALIST88
First of all the bhoy is already a millionaire? with his five year contract.
Don’t think there is any money worries about to surface.
As regards the leg breaking challenges? just bring up Athletico v Celtic
on utube or probably any game against the huns and see that’s never
an excuse to leave the club and family you love.
H.H M
BADA BING
Sorry Bada but when you leave Celtic then i’ll think of you as i’ve
done with the rest of those that thought Celtic aren’t big enough.
………………?
Just about sums it up
H.H Mick
Still the clamour for a RB.Do you never read Lennys comments?Mentioning it every day,wont get us a good RB.Have some faith in Lenny.He knows what we need,and will get it for us.On the KT thing.I love KT,like everyone else,but has anyone really noticed he is not playing?.Has anyone noticed a seismic change in defence since our CH left.We have brought in a beast in Julien,ably backed by another 3 CHs.Many fans have short memories.In seasons past,when we had CH problems,that was fine,Mikel could drop in there.Now we have a guy who can play CH or RB,but thats not on.The Mikel of his first 5 seasons,was only a shadow of himself in the last 2,did not stop us.I just wish fans would let Lenny do his job.He sees the players every day.
It’s Gaelic
MELBOURNE MICK on 2ND AUGUST 2019 2:59 PM
I know all that. But..it is a short career. Lots of people have won 8 figures sums on the lotto and have nothing to show for it. He will be thinking about maximising his potential earnings.
A number of articles have stated he has told Celtic he wants to go. He could have come out and shot that down…he hasn’t.
Neil Lennon has alluded to the unsettling effect and difficulty on focusing. Would that be the case if it was Leeds or Middlesbrough trying to buy him? Even Everton last summer.
This is different.
Hope for the best, fear the worst I suppose.
HH
Some people better get used to the idea,that KT,wants to go,but will not if Celtic dont get the money written into his new contract.Thats were the £25 million comes from.He has plenty of time,he knows it.
STFB
Brett great western road has ex OX chef if you
fancied a taster/tester
TRADITIONALIST88
Don’t understand the winning the lotto thingy, what has that got to
do with the love of the Celtic family?
Maybe you can show me on here the articles stating as you say ” he
wants to go “, i haven’t seen any.
It’s just my gut feeling Kieran’s and his family’s love of Celtic will make
him stay.
H.H Mick
TURKEYBHOY
And you know this for sure?
H.H Mick
MELBOURNE MICK on 2ND AUGUST 2019 3:22 PM
You said he has lots of money already. People have had more than he has and lost it easily.
I didn’t say he is on record saying “he wants to go”, it has been stated in several articles (example below is the latest) and not refuted by KT or Celtic that he wants to go:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7314603/Transfer-news-Arsenal-short-Kieran-Tierney-offer-says-Lennon.html
Which is very different to a public declaration of wanting to go obviously, but the story could be easily shot down by KT and Celtic. Yet it hasn’t been.
Some of our support are in for a bit of shock I fear.
Lets hope we don’t get an acceptable bid in the next few days, I think we can all agree on that.
HH
HEBCELT on 2ND AUGUST 2019 3:10 PM
It’s Gaelic
======================================================
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yk0OB30M1A
7.47
She pronounces it Gallic.
Which is what I passed on.
OK.
You know better , but a bit precious or whit ?
How much Lewis ” anything ” do we get on here anyway ?
Paul 67,
A great rallying cry. It’s up there as a footie equivalent with ” Remember the Alamo”
Well I’m sold.
Getintathem
HH to all and COYBIG.
TRADITIONALIST88
Really sorry, but any evidence you back up your debate with statements
from the MSM is infantile in my opinion.
Shirly you know that?
H.H Mick
Paul67
So the Huns “won” 9 in a row and Fergus sacked Tommy Burns.
There was a million other words that could have described how they, indeed “won” those titles.
They cheated.
I know, and I’m sure you know – FFS, even they know.
Hope their dirty re-incarnation dies.
HH
MELBOURNE MICK on 2ND AUGUST 2019 3:36 PM
Ah the big bad MSM get out. We all know their game but guess what… they write stories about our club which Celtic will go to town on if they contain inaccuracies.
There are also direct, accurate quotes from our manager.
I know its an MSM source but how do you want it, carved on a sheet of gold?!
I just fear for some of our more naive supporters if and when KT heads off.
This is not the 80s or 90s when players knocked back moves for a few extra pounds a week mate.
HH
TEUCHTER AR LA
Hear Hear the sooner sevco die the better ! Dirty cheating bassas !!
Getting 9 Titles in a row is gonnae be very hard. I’m with Greenpinata ……. gerrintaethum.
The Thunder is coming and the Flashes of Brilliance also.
Lenny is getting to his Prime Managerially.
Oh the Huns wullnae like Neil being @ the helm if we win 9 – GOOD.
NFL – Go and make it happen.
MELBOURE MICK,
Yes.Why do you think Lenny is so relaxed on this.Why do you think KT has made no statement on this.Both know what is required.If Arsenal dont come up with the required amount,KT will be at Celtic next season.If they do,he will be at Arsenal.
Man ure pay £80m for Maguire – I just leave that there
Mick- i hear you mate,market forces dictate a lot of situations, he needs to go to make himself a better player, playing in this league for too many seasons would make you stale IMO,unfortunately it’s the league we are in….
TRADITIONALIST88
Again i’m sorry if iv’e upset you, but i don’t think our manager
has said Kieran wants to leave, and if i wait on the board rectifing inacuracies
in any Celtic bashing stories then i think, i’ll still play for the bhoys lol.
As regards the 80’s 90’s probably it was a few shillings a week and we still
had bhoys that remained loyal.
H.H Mick
Reading that Celtic,have asked Glasgow City Council,for another ,3yrs extension on the Ticket office land which the council still own,well God knows how long the Hotel Musuem, Ticket office, will eventually get built, again this board of Directors dragging there heels again, Honestly they talk a good talk,but when it comes to actually getting things done,it takes forever,same with transfers,and they don’t communicate with the ordinary fans , except when they promise you the moon,to renew your ticket, merchandise,and for what same old spin,year after year.