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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WEST WALES CELT
Aye-the Maestro of The Dell,a supreme talent.
MCSTAYS MA HERO
You’ll gather he was one of mine too! Welcome aboard…..
WEST WALES CELT
A few of us are planning a wee get-together in The Foresters in Bristol,first lunchtie Saturday ko so probably in Feb.
I know its about three blinkin’ hours from Carmarthen-I used to visit my lass in Lampeter years ago-but it means you’ll have time to sober up before you have to face the dragon (wee Welsh joke there) if you are interested…..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20780577
A late entry to the smokers debate
BMCUW:
If I’ve shaken the bugs by then (seems to be going on forever!) I would be interested. Will obviously need to check with She-Ra, Princess of Power but will do so and come back to you.
Ta for kind invite bud…
WEST WALES CELT
Pleasure all mine,mate-we’ll plan a follow-up for Cardiff sometime later. I’m rather fond of the place…
LIONROARS67
One wee thing that jumped out at me was the statement that 70% of smokers want to quit. As someone who is long sick of being lied to by official and semi-official sources,I’ll quote that as another example.
It is certainly far from true in my circle of acquaintances,friends and family.
IMO,if said sources could be trusted to be telling the truth,people would be more likely to heed what is said.
BMCUP 07.47
If it is indeed a statistic which is not based in empirical evidence as some Govt figures tend to be, i would suggest it is a minor concern compared to your own health
Have a good and healthy 2013 buddy
Hail Hail
LIONROARS67
Wow,nicely put!
Certainly no pussycat wi a put-down like that.
I like it!!!
BMCUP 08.02
Sorry if it came across as a put down mate, the wish for a you to have a happy and healthy 2013 was genuine
Today is a paradise day, my first visit to Celtic park 2013 cant wait
lLIONROARS67
Not at all,bud-it made me laugh!
A happy,healthy New Year to you and yours also,and enjoy your day out.
I’ll be there on 19 Jan and 27 Apr,otherwise it’s the telly for me…..
BMCUW:
Dempseys would be good, haven’t been there for an age…
Quitting smoking?
I was a total addict. Would want to kill after 3 hours of nicotine deprivation. I kicked it with Champix. Makes you sick if you’re not very careful to eat before taking it but works really well.
NocollywobblesCSC
WEST WALES CELT
In that case you’ll enjoy the company-I’m the only smoker IIRC,and I don’t smoke much really.
In fact,I only nip out for a fag when it’s my round……
BTW,Dempsey’s is the wee Irish bar in a side-street across from the castle?
That works for me. Lovely wee place. First time I was in it,I was asked to prove my credentials by naming the players in the cutting above the door.
Just as well they didnae ask my mate!
Ref the sending off of players vs Sevco.
The really scary fact about the 7 sendings off in div 3 is that most have been since Stirling had the temerity to match up to them physically.
The subsequent media outburst has seen refs take the easy option every time and send off opposing players.
Morning all. Dark, wet and a wee bit windy today here.
Judging by the newspaper headlines at the top of the page, our manager is giving the ole MSM nothing to go on. Long may that remain so. Personally, I would ban the bulk of them. Crass and fearful, hatefilled toward us, and especially our manager almost to a man. Let their publications die.
Thats the one.
Occasionally used to go to meetings of the South Wales No.1 there. Also did a trip or two on the 9 hour bus before BMI baby started flights. ‘The General’ is still I think the leading light. Great ghuy with infamous ability to pluck match tickets from thin air…
Burnley78 08.31
It was yet another example of the SFA, MSM and Sevco lunacy which has and still is destroying Scottish football
A cry for protection led by Ian Black who previous to being a Sevco player was labelled a cowardly little thug by the Govan club courtesy of a challenge on Jelavic, now he is a little angel requirement of referee protection
However one truth which we can all laugh at is the fact that FPLG is such a bad manager who despite the size of squad and full time training the MSM & SFA seen he was struggling in the 3rd Div and needed help……………………………………..
Did any of those seven players have their-mainly contentious- red cards overturned?
No?
Surprising,cos Wallace had his overturned.
A clear penalty,denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Surprised they didn’t amend the result,tbh…..
Burnley
Seven red cards for Sevco opposition …incredible
Yet we get booted up and down the pitch with impunity
As an aside am I just being paranoid or is there an agenda behind the significant exposure that Sevco are receiving via the TV …..my theory is that the satellite channels are desperate for the return of Sevco to the top flight of Scottish football as they want the return Glasgow derby and the commercial benefits it brings …therefore they are trying to keep up the interest in Sevco as much as possible
Either that or their games are cheap to schedule …
BMCUWP
They would have if they could
Very Happy 16th Birthday to Miss Doc is Neil Lennon – Rachel.
Enjoy your Day
The SNP indulging in ‘comforting myth and unproven beliefs’? Surely not.
################
Famine myth warning by top historian
Gerry Braiden
Local Government Correspondent
ONE of Scotland’s most eminent academics has attacked the version of history surrounding the planned memorial to those who died in the Great Irish Famine and warned it must not be “founded on comforting myth and unproven beliefs”.
Professor Tom Devine urged those behind the push for a Glasgow monument to the 100,000 who fled to the city to escape starvation in Ireland in the 1840s to base their campaign on “evidence and analysis of what actually happened” regardless of the “uncomfortable truths” it would throw up.
Mr Devine, director of the Scottish Centre of Diaspora Studies at Edinburgh University, is regarded as the leading authority on modern Scottish history.
He welcomed plans for a monument but said far from highlighting Glasgow’s generosity, almost 50,000 immigrants were sent back to Ireland. He says the massive influx of migrants between 1845 and 1849 was a watershed in anti-Irish and anti-Catholic hostility in Scotland, with sectarian tensions also imported from Ulster.
Describing the Irish Famine as “the worst human catastrophe in 19th-century Europe”, he also called into question comparisons with the Great Highland Famine of the same era.
His intervention has led to calls for him to be part of the expert group deciding what the memorial should be and its setting. The idea has won cross-party and ministerial support.
It was given the go-ahead after a council motion linking it with the Scottish Highland Potato Famine.
It called for recognition of “the efforts made by Glaswegians at the time to provide relief and sanctuary to those affected, a tradition that continues now as our city and its citizens continue to provide hope and assistance to those throughout the world affected by famine today”.
But Mr Devine, who has written the definitive text on the Highland Famine and researched the response in Scotland to those fleeing Ireland, said any history had to be “warts and all”.
He said: “If a historical event of such magnitude and long-term importance is to be justly commemorated it must be done on a foundation of intellectual honesty and integrity.
“To allow any commemoration to be founded on comforting myth and unproven beliefs would be to dishonour the victims of those past horrors.
“It is to be hoped the organisers of any campaign will therefore base it on impartial academic evidence and analysis of what actually happened – even if that reveals some uncomfortable truths.
“To do anything else would be a scandalous betrayal of those of the past who are now deemed worthy of such public commemoration.”
He added: “It is right that the idea of commemoration should be pursued. The consecutive years of unrelenting distress in the late 1840s and early 1850s were catalytic.
“Glasgow would never be the same again.
“The population surged as never before, the pressure on the primitive and undeveloped systems of health care and sanitation almost drove the city to breaking point.
“The religious map of the west of Scotland changed irrevocably and sectarianism intensified with the huge inward movement of both Catholic and Protestant Irish, bringing in their wake the ancient enmities and hatreds of the north of Ireland.
“Yet, miraculously, this vast army of stricken impoverished people and their descendants eventually contributed hugely in a myriad of positive ways to the development of Glasgow’s economy, culture and values.”
SNP councillor Feargal Dalton, who has spearheaded the proposal, said: “While concentrating on the positives when I moved the motion, I did allude to the negative reactions of some, which continues today in some quarters. I would be equally disappointed if any memorial did not capture all aspects of the tragic events. Similarly, any memorial shouldn’t be tucked away in the corner of a museum.
“This contribution by the eminent historian, Professor Tom Devine, is extremely useful and reminds us of the need to be true to the victims and survivors of this massive human tragedy.
“I hope an invitation for Prof Devine to be formally involved in the Memorial Working Group is forthcoming.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/famine-myth-warning-by-top-historian.19799996
Bring on the Lanarkshire lollygaggers…
PF AYR
All Scottish games are cheap to schedule,and I’m sure the ref who sent off Wallace-and had the temerity to award the penalty-has been advised as to his future conduct.
I discovered that the spirit of goodwill to all men over the festive period even extends to my Mum. She’s a saint,really. So if you can get my details from HAMILTON TIM or PAUL67,the 12th is a goer,and I’l meet you on the train at Kilwinning.
Sadly,if I get blootered,I’m not allowed out again……
ernie lynch
09:05 on
2 January, 2013
You using a story to have a cheap shot at the SNP…………surely not
Morning,
I cant wait for todays game. Ibrahim to Killie on a 2 year contract. Wish him all the best.
Dont sell McCourt, Paddy McCourt…
I thought he was going to hang around until September to play for the glorious Sevco?
McGowan’s agent, Lou Sticca, suggested the 23-year-old was on the verge of heading to an unnamed club in the Far East after six-and-a-half years at Tynecastle.
Sticca said: “Ryan will be on his way to China to talk to a leading club there within 48 hours, with the full permission of Hearts.
“A transfer fee has been agreed in principle and it’s a matter of Ryan having a look around and considering personal terms.
West Wales Celt
– > Just for info, big reason le Tiss was at southampton so long, was the ease at which he could get back to his native guernsey. Like a lot of people from there, he tended to travel back a lot, and with several flights a day, he wasn’t far from his family/friends etc. It sounds a bit stupid, but was a major point for him.
Wallace probably got his red card overturned,to make him more sellable this month.
ASonOfDan
– > re McGowan – i hear that Celtic have indicated to hearts they are not interested in signing him. Not quite sure how/why they would do this (ie indicate non-interest).
Personally, i thought he would be a player who would interest Lawwell a lot, and possibly Neil lennon as well.
Morning all!
A belated happy new year to all!
Have a great 2013!
HH!!
West Wales Celt
Call me anything you like……but never that ha ha!
Bobby Murdoch’s……..
Agreed. Of all the talent I’ve seen in The Hoops, McStay is always the one I can’t see past…….a true Celt and an unbelievable talent!!
TomtheLeedsTim
Are you still about?
MWD
PAUL67
Canny believe the grief you have been getting from some ingrates on here about the adverts on the site.
Thanks to CQN,I now know that AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD are playing in Swindon on 16 Feb-a Saturday,so I’m allowed out!
This site is truly a great gift to humanity……..
PS-It was probably in the local paper,and there’s no excuse for not reading it in there. I work for it!!!!!!
TALLYBHOY
Excellent to have you back on-you appropriated your daughter’s laptop while she’s sleeping,or did you threaten her with your special soup?
Hope you’re having a great time with the two women in your life,and had a smashing/smashed New Year with Bob and the lads.
Lonsdale belters……
BMCUW
Saw the Aussie PF last Jan in Glasgow.
One of the best concerts I’ve been to.
Great music and the laser show was outstanding.
They’re playing in Glasgow and Edinburgh soon, and I hope to catch one of them.
SPF
MWD – yes but in phone. Work sent me copies of yr emails. Will respond Friday. No big deal though, we will sort it out later mate.
Sad to hear the passing of Hugh Adam the only man at the time who criticised Sur Mintys runious spending and borrowing. I hope history judges him fairly RIP
(Todays Herald)
Undisclosed payments investigation unaffected by death of former Rangers director Adam.
THE Scottish Premier League’s investigation into alleged undisclosed payments by Rangers via Employee Benefit Trusts will not be affected by the death of former Ibrox director Hugh Adam, Herald Sport understands.
An independent commission headed by Lord Nimmo Smith convenes on January 29 and will later make a ruling on the alleged payments to players at Rangers via EBTs between 2000 and 2010.
If it is found that Rangers failed to disclose contractual payments to the SPL and the Scottish Football Association, a range of punishments could be applied, including stripping of titles and Scottish Cups. An initial inquiry found that Rangers had a case to answer.
The SPL announced on March 5 last year that it would investigate claims by Adam that some payments were not included in official contracts registered with the SPL and SFA.
Adam, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 87, had a 30-year association with Rangers and was credited with bringing £18m into the club via the Rangers Pools from 1971, which helped fund the redevelopment of Ibrox.
He also served as a director before leaving in 2000 and becoming a frequent critic of owner Sir David Murray.
But Adam was not one of the people interviewed during the initial SPL inquiry and his claims, nine months ago, will not determine the outcome.
The SPL said late last year that its investigation would continue despite the First Tier Tax Tribunal ruling in the club’s favour over a potentially huge tax bill.
Charles Green, the Rangers chief executive, has said the “big tax case” verdict had served to “further undermine the validity” of the SPL’s commission, and that his newco would not co-operate with the commission.
Down here in Anglo-Saxon Land it’s all bizness as usual, like the mid-winter fest never happened.
All work ethic and strive harder for less nonsense.
Well….y’know what? Stuff ’em.
Puritanical, Reformational garbage. Life is not all about working yourself into an early grave for somebody else’s profit.
I should know. I’m not lazy. I’m just relaxed.
Feet up. Coffee on its way. Leisurely bath. Watch some footie. Toast & egg. Snooze. Think about ‘stuff’. Watch more footie. Make evening meal. Chat. Bed again. That’s my day sorted.
I refuse to be beaten around the head by the tory twats running the ConDemNation.
2013 and I’m still on my soapbox!
They’ll never take me alive……