My friends in Celtic, pause for a few moments and peruse your domain. On the field of play your favourites matured into accomplished football players. 2011 ended with an acclaimed Joe Ledley header confirming what we already knew, Celtic were the best team in the land.
Despite ‘losing’ the previous three league titles Celtic held firm in the January transfer window; a difficult decision. We needed to win the league – at any credible cost – but without jeopardising the financial stability of the club. More than sporting form was under debate on these pages at the turn of the year, continents were shifting.
Since 2004 readers of Celtic Quick News have read the gospel of financial responsibility. Bills need to be paid, debt cannot be allowed to rise year after year without enormous consequences. Back then we asserted that Rangers would crash and burn. By 2008 we predicted they were on course to go out of business. This message was not always welcome among our own. It was mocked by some, who demanded ever-higher spending to match the Murray Millions, but on 1 January 2012 there was scarcely a Celtic fan alive who didn’t think Rangers were going out of business. It was only a question of when.
When the crash was confirmed, on St Valentine’s Day, Scottish football embarked on a remarkable period of soul-searching. Rangers last owner, Craig Whyte, had a plan, which we explained in some detail in 2011. Whyte subsequently revealed he met with SPL directors, Neil Doncaster and Ralph Topping in October 2011, told them the likelihood that Rangers would go into liquidation, and asked them to back a plan to catapult a Newco-Rangers into the SPL.
The plan was nonsense. Whyte should have been sent away with told to pay his bills but Doncaster was oceans out of his depth. A fait-accompli would be presented to the SPL clubs, vote to change the rules and elect a Newco into the top flight, or deal with “Armageddon”.
Football eventually did the right thing, as many, perhaps most, Rangers fans wanted all along, but hundreds of scribes attached themselves to Whyte’s Cunning Plan, which was presented as a bastion of responsibility, not the work of deception it was. The fight-back started on these pages. Soon it encompassed fans of every club in Scotland and the SPL clubs have no choice but to stick with the established rules.
Rangers creditors voted against a CVA and liquidators were appointed. Pop, and they were gone! Football fans of every colour, who has endured defeat to Rangers but still asserted that expenditure must be limited to income, enjoyed three seconds of glory as they turned to the bling-addicts beside them and said, “Told you”.
A man from Yorkshire with a group of partially-known investors nipped in ahead of various groups of Rangers fans to secure the assets of the club. Evidence suggests he believed the club would achieve a CVA (the assertion that “the history, the tradition, everything that’s great about this club is swept aside” if they were to be liquidated confirms this), but he bid more than any group of Rangers fans for the liquidated assets so ended up with an opportunity to issue himself with 5 million shares worth 70p each a few months later. Beautiful.
We’re on our own.
Celtic began as the solitary voice at SPL meetings speaking against Whyte’s plan. They were not responsible for the demise of Rangers, but let the record show, when the moment of reckoning arrived, the Celtic board liquidated the Old Firm.
On the field of play we were a well-oiled machine. Our first league title in four seasons arrived with consummate ease. Kilmarnock showed what a well-drilled team could do in the League Cup final, with a little help from a last minute blind-spot when Anthony Stokes had his legs whipped from him in the box, but let’s be generous, you know it, I know it, we would have missed the penalty anyway.
Last minute Hampden penalty decisions would crop up again in the Scottish Cup, when the whole Deliberate Handball rule was cast asunder, but refereeing is always been an emerging art in these parts.
The new season, our first ever as the only superpower in the Scottish game, held one major challenge – qualify for the Champions League. Four wins in four qualifying games was better than expected, so the team who were slapped by Sion, attacked by Atletico and usurped by Udinese a year earlier, were in the Champions League.
Be generous to those who dismissed our chances. One poor guy writing the ITVFootball tweets wrote “Bye bye Celtic” on the day we were drawn against Spartak Moscow, Benfica and Barcelona. Based on the evidence available, it was a fair call.
It is nothing short of fantastic, in the literal sense, that we qualified out of that group. Even now, halfway through the season, Barcelona have lost only one competitive game, when Victor Wanyama, Tony Watt and their pals ripped up the form book. It took Barca until the 93rd minute to secure a win over Celtic in the Camp Nou, or they would have three competitive draws on their record for this season, one to Real Madrid in the league, and a meaningless draw against Benfica being the only two.
I honestly thing we have overachieved in Europe this season. Neil Lennon and his players got everything right. The corner and free kicks from Charlie were immense. No one in Europe does better (some supporting evidence here). Forget the more fancied thoroughbreds, Charlie Mulgrew is our Moneyball player, a team full of them and we’ll win the Big Cup.
Victor’s leap and Tony’s finish will be replayed in our minds for years. Despite leaving ample hints, the DVD didn’t materialise at Christmas. Georgios has scored in all of our five European away games, a record.
Expectations will rise as a result of these achievements but we got so many things absolutely right in this Champions League campaign the odds against doing so again next season are high. Celtic will need to start preparing for next season’s Champions League now if they are to have any chance of remaining in the tournament next Hogmanay. If we were operating at 90% capacity we would have finished bottom with one or two points. As for Juventus, bring them on.
These end-of-year reports are often a lot less encouraging. 2010 was far from easy reading, the distance we have travelled since 2010’s is incredible. Celtic end 2012 as one of the most admired clubs in the European game. We develop great players, compete against the best better than anyone else, and have a sense of purpose which will never be extinguished.
Take care and may 2013 bring you all that you hope for.
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Ok. Noo that I’ve caught up.
Roddybhoy. Canny mind the time but another great post.
31003 – I can just imagine you 3 muppets trying to light your lanterns outside the ruggers club. Hilarious!!!
Jimbo67 – your welcome. Sydneytim67 is a good Bhoy. I had a wee bit of a go at him one night for his egativity and called him a troll after a few too many. I apologised soon after but I do hope it wasn’t me that drove him away as my post/s were more tongue in cheek than serious although when reading them back they didn’t read that way in the cold light of day. So Sydneytim. If your out there. I do miss your negativity. :-))
MWD
Prestonpansbhoy..that was a very good day ..delighted to meet another cqner hh
neg anon2………….same to you m8 , have a good 2013
posted on earlier post , dont know if you saw it but how was the Joe Strummer tribute ?
MWD..all the best for the year ahead to you and yours..looking forward to our wee cycle in march..training already started..hh
To all CQNers , thanks for what u do and thanks to Paul 67 for this magic creation.
Away to get blootered, may our new year be a big lugged one!!!
Wembelee , Wembelee
Happy new year and god bless all here!
Hi The Raven,
Yes it was an excellent night – though thanks to the onset of Flu I wasnt at my best (just getting over it now!!).
Assuming its on and I am still alive I will be there again next (so this) year!
This is a long one……
Burghbhoy, that would be pretty special.
Gene’s a Bhoys name, such is life.
Tarrant, yes, really enjoyed Soccer by Numbers.
Catman, you are very welcome.
excathedra44, and the same to you and yours, thanks.
Seville67, sure will, thanks.
corkcelt, and a Happy New Year to you too.
garcia lorca, yes, the struggle will always be with us.
Jonny the Tim, we’ll have a great one, hope you do too.
Jeg er Neil, ha! Many thanks.
Sheik Yerbouti, and the very same to you. Thanks.
Auldheid, yes, still lots to do.
praecepta, and the same to you and yours. Take care and the best for 2013.
Jobo Baldie, yes, the last ever!!
gcctim, yes, not so many mentions of a mentor these days.
the long wait is over, yes. It was the year continents moved. Stunning.
ASonOfDan, ha!
Nuclear Bovril, absolutely agree! Take care.
Fortunes Favour, very best to you too.
johann Murdoch, take care and all the very best to you.
The Raven, you are very welcome. Take care.
Chairbhoy, and the best to you and yours.
Freddiebhoy, and a Happy New Year to you too.
kelvinbhoy, as long as Celtic fans consume prejudiced media Celtic will be victims of it. No amount of lobbying or courtship will change things.
Kilbowie Kelt, yes, a fabulous year.
Charliebhoy, you are very welcome. Take care.
The Boy Jinky, steady now. This year has been momentous, our ’67, but not quite ’67!
Bournesouprecipe, yes, exactly as advertised here! Ha!
SFTB, I can reassure you that Celtic were not consulted on the five part agreement. No emails, no calls or meetings. Their work on the subject started months earlier and assured the preliminary agreement was not fulfilled.
The joint sponsorship point is near impossible to give an assurance on. What if Nike offer us a deal and Sevco the same deal a week later, is this a joint sponsorship? It will look like one and act work one, it would appear to break any assurance not to enter one, but the club have no score to limit who Nike do business with.
All the best for 2013, b.t.w.
Stefferano, thank you.
RRC, and the same to you. Take care.
Doctor Whatfor, thank you. Reeking away!
jimbo67, they could always be better. The 66-67 lost home and away to United!
Summa of Sammi, take care and the same to you.
Roddybhoy, there is an SPL Commission due to sit in January! Give them a chance. Nothing whatsoever can or will be done about those at the SPL or SFA until then.
danso_1888, you have completely lost me there. Rules were applied as they stood. Believe me, things would be very different otherwise.
saltires en sevilla, you are very welcome. Take care.
fanadpatriot, and a great one to you.
lucky cody, best wishes to you too.
neilymochansmagicsponge, and the same to you. Take care.
ItaliaBhoy, Buon’ Anno to you too.
stevebhoy, it sure is!
Parkheadcumsalford, bring them on.
Zimmerman, sure hope so.
EKBhoy, the same to you too.
EXILED TIM, thanks.
kdc, thank you for your kind words. Take care and have a great one.
leftclicktic, many thanks. Same to you.
StumptownBhoy, hopefully catch you then.
glasgowdave, thank you and the same to you. Onwards for nine-in-a-row.
SuperSutton, sorry, not a reliable way to achieve that. All the best for 2013.
sipsini, thank you and the very best to yours.
Greensideup, take care and all the best.
Celticeoin, Happy New Year to you too.
hailhailplc, all the best to you too.
Art of War, you’re very welcome. Take care.
B11OYS, many thanks.
Margaret McGill, you are very welcome. Take care.
Clashcitybhoy, good shout for all those unsung heros.
Awe_Naw, prep for Hogmanay is well underway. Just need a wee disco nap….
pigalle, you are very welcome. The CQN Stand will remain open for a while yet.
IanBhoy929, and a prosperous one to you too. Take care.
ulysses mcghee, and the same back to you.
DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY, and a Happy New Year to you too. Take care out there.
ianinascoli, it sure is, although some try….
Logical Optimist, thank you. Take care.
Edward, good to read that name again. Still a loss. Take care and all the best for 2013.
Leabrannagh, wondered about the botanists!
starry plough, an incredible year. Take care.
gordybhoy64, a Happy New Year to you too.
Hun said to me today that the Dundee coverage was more than they got for the Manchester riot, says it all really…..
bobby russell-keep the Jabba stuff handy for re posting regularly,and on the hun sites too HH
MWD
If he is who I think he is he’s not the kind of bloke who would stop reading or contributing because of anything you (or I ) said. He’s no like me who still won’t read Setting Free The Bears posts after he chided me for being annoyed we’d lost 3-2 at Ibrox!
H x 2
Counting out the year with A NIGHT eATing THE RITZ.
Have a brilliant Hogmany CQNrs … And a very hoopy new year.
AoW
Kismet!
Have a hailhailnewyear
hhplc
ps – 2012 brought some weird and wonderful moments…..just saw something earlier today that falls into the wierd category……some nut was surfing off mallaghderg (sp) beach, on the coast of Donegal…hopefully not Thomthethim!!!!!!!….good weather for it, apart from approximately 20C
Paul 67- happy new year to you and yours.
Hi Ghuys, Salve salve;-
A very Happy New Year to each and every one of you and your loved ones when it comes.
I wish you all health, happiness, wealth and the time to enjoy them.
Greenwells
Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis
Not only does Paul67 lead the Blog, he reads it.
Hail Hail
Paul
My comment was regards the best year for scottish football … Not just our club
Still lurking.
Still loving the Celtic.
Still loving the singing, flags and politics.
All the best for 2013 to Paul and fellow CQNers.
PAUL67
That is the most powerful comment I have read on here.
You getting angry now?
BIGJIE.where have you been with the goals you have been sadly missed.great foto of our hero.are you sure thats MONTE C.it looks like that club just over the canal bank on left hand side.
Paulus LXVII, Salve salve;- Benedicamus te,
A very happy new year to you and yours.
I know you like this one.
The real Super Sammy
Pax Vobiscum
In case I don’t get a chance to later I would like to wish you my friends and family a happy New Year. Apart from the The Rangers supporters who are adamant that next year is not a new year it’s a continuation of the old one.
Courtesy of missus Thindime.txt
Paul67 I’m impressed you didn’t start with “na na ni na na told you so Generation of Domination :-) ” Hope you and yours have a great night!
Wishing you all the very best of everything I’m not sure how we can top 2012, but I’m going to give it a try and have a sneaky wee feeling we might succeed!
Will be raising a glass to absent friends, God Bless and Happy New Year one and all
Paul67, you trying to break the blog?
And are ye no talkin to me?
Big long new years honours list and ah didny even get an OBE
(which I would have refused anyway)
Hail Hail and have a good one.
Paul67,
Happy New Year to you and yours.
HH
Paul 67
Sorry I omitted to wish you and yours a Happy New Year. When it comes. Who knows perhaps we’ll look on 2012 in the same way my dad looked on 1966.
H x 2
Happy New Year to all when it comes
For family reasons, I’ll be glad to see the back of it, and the next few days as well
For anybody I’ve insulted here in the last year, intentionally or unintentionally, heartfelt and genuine apologies
Life really is too short
Hope I don’t sound patronising, but give the ones you love a bone-crushing hug tonight, look them in the eyes, and tell them you love them… you’ll need it in years to come
hail hail
see you in the new year
As the year ends, a big thanks to all on CQN for endless hours of wit and wisdom.
Favourite posts are too numerous to mention but the night of the spoof pledges to their fighting fund had me in tears.
Favourite posters are also too many but everyone contributes in their own way, whether it be an in-depth analysis of the RFC scandal or simply a one liner that somebody comes away with.
What a year!
Great stuff, keep it up and all the best to the worldwide Celtic family.
hh
paul67
20:46 on
31 December, 2012
kelvinbhoy, as long as Celtic fans consume prejudiced media Celtic will be victims of it. No amount of lobbying or courtship will change things.
——————————————————————————————————-
Paul67, that response says a great deal indeed.
I hope in the next year the decline of the MSM will continue and accelerate, until they are forced into reporting in an old fashioned journalistic way, i.e. report the facts, opinions perhaps, but based on fact.
If they do not, I will continue to get my Celtic news quickly and football in general from blogs, fan site, and the web, the MSM are becoming irrelevant, by their own doing.
I hope other Tims do so as well.
I’m not really one for all this New Year sentimentality and see it as just a date change like any other.
However, I’d like to wish you all health and happiness in the days, weeks, months and year to come.
Paul67
Didny see my name up there.
But I will be the bigger Mhan..Happy New Year to you and yours at 12 a cloak,hh
JimmyQuinnsbits
Great post, advice taken.
Paul67etal.
I was holding out for a Happy New Year at 00.01,but then I thought that it would be nice to get my name in the yellow pages,so just for you I’d like to wish you,your lovely wife ,and two boys the most wonderful year you can have,onwards and upwards Paul.
NegAnon2
20:45 on 31 December, 2012
Hi The Raven,
Yes it was an excellent night – though thanks to the onset of Flu I wasnt at my best (just getting over it now!!).
Assuming its on and I am still alive I will be there again next (so this) year!
——————————————————————————————————
Never knew about the tribute until i saw you mention it on a post , if i had known
i probably would have went .
Let me know if its on next year .
Cant believe its 10 yrs since his passing , and it seems like yesterday when i saw
him with the clash and later on with the pogues ( showing ma age )
Was it a tribute band / dj type of night ?
I take it you’ve watched strummerville which is on sky arts now and again ?
Gonna stick white man on nooooo…….Joe strummer .legend….
VP -happy new year to you guys, quiet one for me,which suits me fine HH
It was a very good year!
Just on to say thanks to Paul for another year of wonderful work. Paul, hope you and the family have a happy & health 2013.
Best wishes to all CQNers. Another golf day being planned, sort of. Same place, date tbc.
We love you Celtic we do
!!Bada Bing!!
Happy new year mate,quiet night for me too….till hootenanny then couple of McCallans
then fall doon behind couch,,,which will be hard as its up against the wall.
Hail hail buddy
to Paul and all fellow CQN’ers Happy New Year …looking forward to Turin and to the next golf day….hopefully go one better and win the next one :-)
Just want to wish all of you wherever you may be tonight a very Happy New Year.I hope 2013 is a great year for you all.Especially those of you who are on your own or those who have lost loved ones, hopefully the memories will sustain you. Here’s to a successful
year for Celtic.