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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SFTB
Magical
We should listen to our Leaders.
Washingfeet.csc
TimBhoy2: best of luck with your continued recovery.
JamesGang: Breithlá sona duit.
HANKRAY on 2ND AUGUST 2019 7:44 PM
You say London can be a very expensive place. You’re right and it can also be a very soulless and discomforting place for someone of KT’s background. I have good friends, one of whom rose to prominence in the media world and that meant living down there. They couldn’t wait to get back across the border. There are serious cultural differences.
C’mon Celtic
I reckon KT is staying, and never wanted to LEAVE.
CELTIC is POWERFUL.
More guff about Fat Charlie………………. knockin’ back a “fantastic” mega-bucks deal to China……..????
I reckon El Duffalo is
just keepin’ his powder dry…………
:)))))))))))))
Perhaps the Big Man…………………………………………………………
Love reading Celtic by Number’s stuff. Tremendous resource, well done sir, you deserve to be supported.
Paul 67
The site is becoming unusable and unreadable, continual jumping, pages missing, never mind the adverts. And all that comes before reading the comments.
Mikey J was unfazed at the hate factory.
He’s gonnae be an Admira Wacker of a Leo Sayer.
Magical – The Logical progression Celtic is on.
Tommy Burns.CSC
We all want it Yesterday.
Tommy Burns Faith first.
Sorry I think he was Family first.
He is the Ultimate Tim.
Different Times I put Yeshua ahead of the Family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfihYWRWRTQ
I haven’t a clue about computers but some ghuy on the blog put up how to install adblocker, that was a couple of years ago. Never had a problem with the site since.
a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnZ8bmEOTM”>Wan Dayton@ a Time
sweet Jesus.
Love is the Winner. Satan is running amok.
Wan Dayton@ a Time
NFL isnae gonnae be stopped in what he wants to do.
The Morra will give a real insight.
The Huns Celebrating Neil getting the job, they urnae the Brightest.
Neil Francis Lennon is whole Different Animal frae Brendan.
is a
Timbhoy2,
Best wishes for your continued recovery.
And keep posting what you want to post.
HH.
1690 – LOL
Edinburgh Thinking,
Watching Luton v Middlesbrough. Really enjoyable game. Magic Marvin Johnson (ex Motherwell) is playing. Very skilful. Lovely player to watch.
Thanks Bhoys for your comments to me,GREENPINTA,It’s all about opinions,isn’t it,some like them some don’t,.
Celtic are up against so much,
9 in a Row isnae done Easily, unless yer Cheating.
St Johnstone have had a very poor pre Season. That means Nothing.
I am hoping for the Bhoys to Win and Win well. I rate their Manager so a + 2 goals win would be INCREDIBLE.
We cannae slip up at all.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 2ND AUGUST 2019 4:33 PM
Hi Mike. I am fine. How are you?
Max (labrador) has had a new lease of life this week when an American vet who has joined our local practice put him into Gabapentin. I was just getting used to short walks and now he is desperate to get down to the park. Loving it.
Send me any pictures that you have of Seamus Larsson
I just thought that Arsenal’s terms for Pepe with under 30% up front was very low.
Anyway, the quest for another title begins tomorrow and another flag day to enjoy. Precious times
As the Cameras are not Live.
I expect the Celtic Despising Referee to do what the SFA does. Out of sight, never Reviewed.
C’mon the Celtic!!!!
OLDTIM….
Hope you are home safely now, enjoyed the company today in the BV.
Looking forward to our upfield midfield pups and wingers rip teams apart with their speed of passing.
Hopefully the cluggers we come up against will be dealt with by our big bhoys that lenny has been bringing into the Celtic fold.
Reckon we all know to win the league for 9 in a row we are starting most games a goal down… As my grand Joe said when I was a pup.
sipsini,
A goal down is the Truth.
C’mon the Celts.
You up for a wee Session in Reardens – American Pool only noooo the Small Table is errrrrr, too Small,
C’mon Celtic.
RIP Dolores.
Dreams
SIPSINI on 2ND AUGUST 2019 9:26 PM
glad you all had a good day
HH
dena29 Celtic dena29 Celtic dena29
I hope we get this 9. Neil is Magical.
PETEC on 2ND AUGUST 2019 9:46 PM
Here we go 9iar
HH
Timbhoy2.
All the best with yer recovery.
And stay calm the morra.
Dena29,
God Bless you and all of your crew. Ye are the salt of the Earth.
C’mon Lenny lets do this.
Timbhoy2
keep on keeping on,
HAPPY HOOOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to one of our finest JAMESGANG.
Its the KANO bucket collection tomorrow so any extra change will help.
keeping football free for kids CSC
Rewind
Neil is Smiling Big Time.
A Genius so he is.
LEFTCLICKTIC on 2ND AUGUST 2019 10:00 PM
Might see you tomorrow at your station P
HH
LEFTCLICKTIC
When I was wee , keeping football free for kids meant getting a lift over the turnstiles-))
For a few weeks I’ve given in to the ‘fact’ that we’re going to lose KT. Ah well, more money to strengthen the team is surely a consellation. However, I’ve now come to the conclusion that (when we actually have loadzadosh) we don’t actually know/care or can be bothered about spending it. I’d really love it if KT (easier to spell) stays. What a lift it would be, along with our new right back and striker.
Neil Lennon is Brave Brave Undaunted.
I didnae want him there for his own Good.
Neil wants to be in there.
Something inside so STRONG.
So tomorrow the season kicks off….I am so looking forward to it,
and not just because of Celtic, but because I actually love Scottish football….AND I’ve done my own wee warped view of us and them, how we’ve got where we are etc etc….
It is a video however and it’s 24 minutes long.
Anyway the concept of what’s in there began some months ago. April 13th 2019 to be precise.
So since that genesis, today, 108 days later, can probably be highlighted as the first
staging post in an intriguing quest to discover exactly what the secret recipe is that has enabled a
resurrected Rangers team to doggedly go from shy, retiring and humble division 3 participants to
probably favourites for the Scottish Treble in the coming season.
What was it about the approach, the plans and the measures put in place in 2012 that enabled them to burst through the glass ceiling of history to see them , albeit modestly, at the top of
the podium of expectation.
For someone such as myself with a scientific background in cause and effect but with a real respect for
the power of the coin toss, shortstraw and the aura of tea-leaf I was fascinated to analyse
why such intellectual sporting philosophers such as Chick Young were being ignored by many when he predicted at least two cups to ‘ra gers’ and a close race to an as yet indeterminate SPFL premier title.
We ignore such gurus at our peril, although I have been guilty myself in pigeon-holing him
with the likes of …….well…..pigeons.
However as April 13th came to a close and the shakes from a full day of alcoholic abstinence subsided,
I determined that if anything would keep me from the demon drink it would be a combined logical
and metaphysical deconstruction of what it is that makes them such a brilliant football and social experiment.
How did they manage to shake off the shackles of sectarianism, the straitjacket of the primeval swamp to
become such a progressive and radical example of social conscience.
As I reached my initial conclusions following extensive research and discussions with a eclectic range of
Buchanan street entertainers, a chance meeting with one of their resurrected supporters as I explained to
her brother how to work a mirror, revealed that a secret convention had been planned to pull the strands of
next season’s venture into a unbeatable modus operandi.
Fortunately that get-together was close by and so last night I managed to secrete a camera in to the
extravaganza. Delegates came as you will find out from all over Glasgow and wider locations…one or two
of them may even have been from different dimensions.
I have just finished editing the recording and have published the first part as a precursor to the new season.
We would do we to heed the warnings contained ….although we would do even better to take note that
108 days without a drink is a recipe for, as ma mammy used to say…”Opening my mouth and letting
a belly rumble”
NOTE…..It is 24minutes or so long, but the commentary is riveting (an objective conclusion by me).
(note the first 30 and last 10 secs are silent …the rest is sort of ….different….and If you have a
small screen/bad eyesight, then you will need speakers/earphones)
It is as I say Part 1 and is my first signpost to the new season …..other parts will be published
as the season progresses……although this may depend on who wins the argument….me or the wine rack?
(By the way…it is intended as a laugh…so no real offence should be taken by Ibrox fans,
Scousers, the Moon, Zombies, goats, lions, people who knit or Gary McAllister)
Anyway…if you want to fill in a spare 24 minutes…….
http://alturl.com/wbbad
Hail Hail
Matt