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You are at:»»State of the Club Report, Summer 2019

State of the Club Report, Summer 2019

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. Matt Stewart on

    Sorry about the formatting above….it was written in a simple text editor which seems to have totally bewildered the blog processes.

     

     

    Mind you, that might make my guff more decipherable.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Matt

  9. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    PATMCGRATHTAKESAPENALTY.

     

    Sorry i never got round to answering what was a very good post from

     

    you yesterday, fatigue overtook me after a day with the wee yins lol.

     

    Your thinking is the same as my own and i know many others, i hope

     

    we are very happy at the end of the transfer windae.

     

    And a wee mention for the wonderful Danny McGrain another lifelong

     

    Celtic man and legend.

     

    H.H Mick

  10. Gutenberg on

    KT

     

    I’ve heard that he’s not against leaving, which is different from he wants to leave.

     

    Gooner pals think it will happen at the death because they’re tight and so are we so we’ll both push it to the limit.

     

    Celtic are happy to deal at £25m but up front and the board are not sure his value will ever be higher.

     

    Chance we’ll lose Callumn too as the snake wants him. £18m quoted.

     

    I think one will go, hopefully not both but I wouldn’t be surprised.

  11. glendalystonsils on

    GUTENBERG

     

     

    That would indeed indicate where our ambitions lie , if both went.

     

     

    Feeder club for the decadent EPL.

  12. Gutenberg on

    Glendalystonsils

     

    Not sure if I’m pissed off or if I get it or both.

     

    If I was either of them I’m not sure what I would do. But at my age now, of course I’d stay…

  13. Park Road 67 on

    MELBOURNEMICK

     

    How’s it gaun mhate ? Hope you and the Mornington Rhebels have recovered after the planned assault on that brewery last weekend !! PENINSULARHEBELS CSC

  15. glendalystonsils on

    Fans will always see things differently to players ( even player /fans like KT). Maybe both KT and Callum would jump at a big money move , but the fans have ambitions too and the club club has a responsibility to ensure that money in the bank does not jeopardise success on the park.

  16. owen on

    One more sleep and then off to Paradise with big wee sis Dena for flag day. Probably be dragged into establishments serving spiritous liqour knowing her but what can one do. 🤔

  20. Friesdorfer on

    Timbhoy2

     

    Glad to hear that things are on the upturn for you. Hope you enjoy the game tomorrow, as much as I aim to do likewise.

     

    HH

  21. Melbourne Mick on

    PARK ROAD 67

     

     

    G’day mate, Paddy and the committee have planned another assault on

     

    Mornington Golf Club on the 10th of Aug. for a treble treble dinner dance

     

    i’m sure we’ll be better prepared this time those high velocity beers at the

     

    battle of the brewery caught our troops off guard 8-))

     

    Hope you and your lovely missus are good, and it would be great to

     

    see you both back here and spend some time down the peninsula.

     

    H.H Mick

  22. Friesdorfer on

    Jamesgang

     

    Belated Happy Birthday for yesterday, hope it was a great day. Maybe see you at the Corner today.

     

    HH

  23. Melbourne Mick on

    OWEN

     

     

    I’m so envious, not just the fact you are going to paradise

     

    but walking into a pub with the beautiful cqn legend DENA.

     

    Waow just waow.

     

    H.H Mick

  24. Melbourne Mick on

    Time to look out my hun hunting gear now, my United Irishman

     

    top is always a winner.

     

    Don.t think their winning the preseason cup hubris has reached

     

    the Aussie shores yet, but i’ll keep sniffing about till i get a catch.

     

    COYBIG.

     

    H.H Mick

  25. jamesgang on

    Thanks for my birthday wishes ghuys n ghals.

     

     

    Found myself thinking a lot about my wee late Highland Mum who changed her world and mine forever half a century ago.

     

     

    Quite humbling. As is the kindness on here.

     

     

    HH jg

  26. jamesgang on

    In other news…anyone who can advise on how best to get a bioethanol stain off very expensive patio tiles may help me see 51!

     

     

    🙏🙈☠️

     

     

    HH jg

  27. Melbourne Mick on

    JAMESGANG

     

     

    Lovely thoughts, and your correct, even though we differ with our debates

     

    we are still all the Celtic family.

     

    H.H Mick

  29. Garngad to Croy on

    Matt

     

     

    You are either a genuis or a raving lunatic ! Does Scotland have a poet Laureate ?

  31. weebawbabitty on

    Gutenberg, good post , good luck to KT , kinda think most of us realise what is going down !! Suppose we should all wait till the transfer window shuts 😂😂before we comment! 😂 !! Remember lads our Celtic don’t need to win 🤮🤮🤮🤮

  33. big g on

    Is it going to happen are Celtic going to spend the Celtic fans money to strengthen the squad for the rest of the season, or are we going to to tell the fans it’s going to go tits up if we spend to much, remember pistol Pete you’ve had a free run while the Huns were dead

  36. big g on

    How good would it be if we put everything into the next two seasons, and if we fail then we can’t blame anyone including pistol pete

  37. Greenpinata on

    Mr Jamesgang,

     

     

    A belated happy, hoopy birthday to you.🍾🍷🍹🍸🥃🍰🎂

  38. petec on

    C’mon Celtic, lets do this.

     

     

    I hanker for a proper CH coming through our ranks.

     

     

    Big Kris is Amazing, Incredible and will be, I hope, a Capitano of Celtic wan day, just need that little bit more – Selfish I know.

     

     

    John Kennedy mair than anyone wants that Dude in the Celtic First Team.

     

     

    Wow Here we go.

     

     

    Just get the 3 points the day Celtic.

  41. David66 on

    Goooooood morning CQN from a lovely sunny Garngad

     

     

    Flag day, (any lurking Huns, remember that😂😂😂 GIRFUY) lets get off to a good start bhoys.

     

     

    D. :)

  42. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    🎵 There’s only one Boli Mbombo

     

    He hits the ball with aplomb- o 🎶

     

    🎶 He plays out left…

     

    … His touch is deft🎵

     

    🎵 Walking in a Boli Wonderland 🎶

     

    🍀⚽️

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