My friends in Celtic, for the first time in four years we start a league campaign as champions. We carry a slender-but-hopeful lead into the second leg of our Champions League third qualifying round tie, and we are hotter favourites to win the league this season, than North Korea’s Supreme Leader’s favourite Pyongyang team would be, if he was to playing as striker.
Quite simply, the return on money placed on Celtic to win the league this season more accurately reflects a tax-free savings plan than a gamble. The bookies will hold your money until March or April then return it with some interest. Your rate of return will directly reflect the interest they can earn elsewhere.
This is the ninth eve-of-the-season we have reported on the state of the club. During this time we have gone toe-to-toe with a competitor who tried so hard to get the better of us, they ran up unsustainable debts, which could reach £134m, and which will never be paid or forgiven.
Celtic ran a better operation, were commercially sharper, had by far the best scouting system in the country, but paid their bills and ‘lost’ five leagues in this time.
Living with this was hard. In fact, it tore the Celtic support apart. The question was simple, “If they can, why can’t we?”
They couldn’t, and now the ideological debate is over. Mantras we have heard for decades have proven to be false. ‘Speculate to accumulate’ and ‘For every fiver Celtic spend….’ were suitable for an inflating market, where player values, TV contracts and match day revenues rose consistently, but this strategy was fatally flawed.
Whatever was accumulated in Scottish football it was never financial reserves, so when revenues dipped, or the vagaries of sporting fortune denied the wealthy their anticipated earnings, Armageddon happened – for one club!
Students of economic history will be able to tell you that even the most obvious economic lessons are eventually forgotten. New people arrive, achieve some early successes which reaffirm their ideological beliefs (in this instance ‘We deserve more money to be spent on footballers’), make no provisions for the inevitable change in circumstances, before disappearing into the obscurity from which they came, leaving others to live with the consequences.
Here is the true State of your Club. Celtic will continue its trajectory without changing what has been orthodoxy since the last century. Over any business period we will spend whatever money comes into the club. In normal times debt levels will trend downwards, providing space for the afflictions of fortune to be accommodated. We will most likely promote more players from our precocious youth system and buy fewer squad fillers than in the past.
The blink-junkies, who still believe in the values of Sir David Murray, will be reminded on these pages of their consequences *.
When this period of our history ends, we will reflect back on what, by then, will be the most successful period of any club, in any country. Ever. Those of you who lived through Lisbon are now enjoying the second Golden Generation of our club, but this time, nine years will not contain it. This Generation will stretch from 2000 as far as your mind’s eye can see, if only someone would coin a catchy phrase to encapsulate this successful period!
The Battle of the Ages is over, Celtic have prevailed, as did every Scottish football fan who wanted the madness to end. We won!
Thanks to everyone who bought a raffle ticket to help with our summer charity causes. Enjoy the season. I will.
*At the moment I’m reading End this Depression Now by Nobel Economics Laureate Paul Krugman, an excellent insight into how even the most eminent allow what they want to believe to obscure some of the lessons every economics under-grad is taught. It’s also a fine retort to the political classes who believe there’s nothing we can do for the economy but strangle it a little tighter.
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Not a fan of Craig Broon tho’………………he’s part of the old problem.
Charlie is suspended due to his red card against Ajax for trying to impersonate Big Fraser
DerryDave,
Thanks for the info, although it’s not good in terms of seeing the game!
At least it’ll save him the time searching
leftclicktic on 4 August, 2012 at 09:00
lefty
loose talk costs lives.
silly billy. apparently it’s not just uncle walter that’s gunning for Doddsy now.
his tea’s oot lol
bsm71 on 4 August, 2012 at 07:56 said:
Up since 6.45, excited for the game. You’d think the excitement would wear off by the age of 41. But no.
—————–
Spoke to my auld uncle about the buzz of being a Celtic fan ,just before his 81st birthday.
Does it ever leave you I stupidly asked .
He just smiled & winked at me “if I ever find out I will tell you”.As he pressed the old cassette tape of celtic songs into the machine.
He passed away not long after and his only regret was not being fit enough to make it to the games.
He used to love telling of as a young Bhoy walking from Mossend to Uddingston to get the Halfpenny tram to parkhead.
This season as I start with New hope( I had STUPIDLY allowed things to affect my Support for the club) I think of him often.
HAIL HAIL uncle John
Good morning internet bampots & keyboard clatterers.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a last 6 and a half months but here we are, the dawn of a new SPL season, without Rangers.
I originally registered on this site while I was still in Glasgow, many years ago – I remember having to re-register at some point…change of provider? But I had posted very little. I lurked a bit when I first came to Spain – I lurked when I was watching games via livescore or on dodgy streams, when I was missing the banter of the ‘terraces’.
But it’s only in the last 6 months that I’ve started to read & post regularly here. And no, it’s not that I hate Rangers more than I love Celtic, it’s because football, generally, can be easily understood. This whole saga has been at times incomprehensible. Even where rules exist, they haven’t always been followed and new ones have been invented to suit.
So anyway, now it’s all over and Scottish football is entering a new era, a big thanks to all. To Paul for providing this space and to all of you of making it such a welcoming place to be.
Happy season 2012-13 and HH.
Full bus on the B’pool shamrock which translated into CP crowd, I’d guess a full house…. Happy days!
One spare ticket going on the bus, area 115, give me a shout, email, text etc if interested.
HH
Sun is shining on the southside, and Celtic Park beckons!
Respect and thanks to Taggsybhoy, BlantyreKev, John, Michael and Paul 67 for another wonderful day by the seaside.
I thought I was on my holidays. I was in the sand at the 1st, in the sea at the 2nd and at the 4th a seagull shit on my best cashmere slipover. Or sloppy Joe!
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside. Oh, I do like to be beside the sea…..
Thanks again, Guys.
Sparkleghirl
Good post hen,
HH to ye.
Good Morning,
Almost 125 years ago a group of men got together in a room and decided that they shouod start a club. As you dwell on that sentence, try and picture the scene, the fashions, the faces and so on. There will have been handle bar moustaches and full beards aplenty. There were no cars, aeroplanes, telephones, TV’s, computers or internet then of course, but in between their discussion of the business in hand, I will bet that there was laughter.
When you see old photographs– really old photographs— you see people in formal pose, in black and white, or with a touch of sepia– but you don’t see smiles. Maybe folk posed formally back in the day– all serious and stiff? Maybe a photograph was seen as a privilege or an honour– and so a striking pose was required? What is certain, is that whilst photographs could provide an image, they were sufficiently novel and special things that people struck a pose– and as a result they did not capture people in a relaxed state, nor capture their natural personalities, their warmth or their humour.
So when you see old photographs of say Willie Maley or Brother Walfrid– you don’t immediately imagine men who are smiling, laughing, and exuding warmth, fun and enthusiasm. Yet, all of that must have been present in St Mary’s Hall in November 1887.
Almost 125 years later, a group of men meet at the Aberdour Golf Club with the club that was discussed at the original meeting all those years ago as their common bond. They share a round of golf— a thoroughly ridiculous game if you stop and think about it, where the object is to hit a wee white ball around a field with various metal sticks, avoiding big sandpits, mini lakes,The River Forth, trees bushes and long grass, all with a view to eventually getting the wee white ball into what appears to be a wee white rabbit hole.
After this ludicrous sporting ritual– which, by the way, people pay thousands of pounds a year to participate in , and which most complain about their ongoing failure to master,—- they do the only sensible thing possible. They eat, drink, talk about Celtic Football club and laugh— and laugh loudly at that.
Needless to say, I was at Aberdour yesterday evening– although I stress I did not attempt to chase the wee white ball around the hills— I gave that up years ago concluding that eventually the man with the wee white coat would come and take me away to the wee white ward if I continued.
It was a great evening, with many laughs, plenty of smiles and was thoroughly enjoyable– although none of that would have been achieved and enjoyed if it were not for a welter of incedibly hard work on the part of Taggsy– who was shattered at the end ( on his birthday as well )– the elfin Blantyre Kev— Johnnybhoy and others. A great big thankyou to them– although we really do need to talk about Kevin!!!
It was good to meet so many CQN’ers and put faces to names. I caught up with Burnley 78 after not years but decades, spoke to Pat McGinley — a cousin thrice removed and winner of the competition, shared a chat about the wonders of leggoland with Paul 67, heard of the progress of the Battered Bunnet’s daughter from University, saw BJ Mac looking healthy but spouting his usual pile of nonsense, put a face to Jobo and his weather reports, Discussed the merits of Fritters and Hamilton nightclubs with Dougie C…….. and on and on……. not to mention heard some great chat from John Highes…. who comes across as someone who continues to pinch himself to check that he really has been lucky enough to earn a decent living out of football, raise a family and enjoy a life that might just have passed by had he remained a bit of a wild tearaway from Leith.
I don’t like to think that Walfrid started a football club– he started a club that played football. He started a club that took men– and women– away from the hardships of the day, the heavy labour of work, the terrible conditions that prevailed at the time, the poverty, the illnesses, and all that was wrong with the east end of Glasgow at the time. That club would provide some money to help others, provide food and do some good.
Whilst we are all more comfortable today and conditions are better, there was still money raising aplenty yesterday– for we Oscar, the local primary school, and other good causes.
That takes me to today and Celtic Park.
Inside your match programme today you will find some details of a new initiative by Celtic. It is called 1254125 — and is basically a worldwide charity drive and, as I understand it, is an attempt to take Celtic Football Club and the charitable ideas started all those years ago right around the globe with Celtic fans and supporters, their friends relatives, hingers oan, sidekicks and cronies of whatever size,shape, colour, persuasion and gait, raising money for good causes in every corner of the planet— and with the money raised staying local to where it was raised! In short, it could take the Celtic idea of the handlebarred moustachioed men into every and any community on the globe if someone wants to participate—- in the name of Celtic.
The idea is not far off out of its infancy… and has to be developed further— but it is moving, it is there and it will move farther and faster if we all get behind it and come up with ideas and initiatives.
Most of all folks– it has to be fun– it has to remain that distraction from the everyday. That is what Celtic is about.
Enjoy the flag day with Sean Fallon.. with friends, fathers, sons, brothers and so on. That camaraderie, that time with kids and parents was one of the topics of conversation last night between a few of us— it is funny what men talk about between courses. That of course will be food courses and not wee white rabbit hole courses!
Last night, for me, was not a golf course dinner and some speeches. It was just an honour and a privilige to be amongst good folk enjoying themselves and doing Celtic things in the name of Celtic.
If I were to mark a scorecard i could not do it in numbers and would prefer words– with which I am far more comfortable— and maybe it would say this.
Walfrid done well– Walfrid’s Bhoys (125 years down the line) doing better and always seeking to improve….. and you can ask nothing more.
HH
BRTH
PS Angel Gabriel– remind me of the name of that book you told me about– if you still have my e-mail address then deop me a line. Thanks
spoke to Fraser this morning he was well
Sannabhoy was the captain of our ship.
Driving sideways through roundabouts with one hand while telling us how he has wrote of his last three cars. Door to door delivery. You are a star.
Thanks to all for another great day.
Jelly and ice cream was lovely.
HH
leftclicktic
What a classic answer from your uncle,sorry to hear about his passing.I remember my dear old mother’s (RIP) reaction,after being told by her doctor that,”sitting in cold football stadiums isn’t good for your condition”.”Suppose I’ll need to buy a box then”.
Typicaly arrogant hun Walter Smith saying prove EBTs are illegal no one has proved it to him yet, well Wattie you have just confirmed that they were in operation.I think you should prove to those of us not involved why you should not be prosecuted for theft and non payment of tax.The whole Rangers saga stinks and you arebeing protected by the sticky handshake brigade from prosecution.Sir David Murray and the rest of your crew should be treated like the common criminals that you are.H.H.
Good morning from a sunny Newton Mearns long lie this morning and the good lady not happy that I insisted on sleeping with the CQN Golf TROPHY beside me.
To everybody that organised yesterday’s golf day a heartfelt thanks and much appreciation. Surprised but most definitely delighted with my achievement . What better way to follow a great day with an even better one going to watch the champions unfurl the flag and win the first league game of the season. The best part for me yesterday was meeting fellow CQN ers and getting to know you guys. Once again a thousand thankyous and trust me I will posting more regularly. Need to go and get ready for paradise, Adios from the new and thoroughly chuffed 2012/13 golfing champion and true legned Paddybhoy
It’s a Worldwide Family, it’s Flag Day, the Champions unfurl the flag with one of our legendary Celts Sean Fallon, it’s Celtic the one and the only and my CQN badge arrived this morning…
What a way to live your life..
Hail Hail to one and all
Good morning friends from a bright, sunny and extremely pleasant looking East KIlbride. Flag Day and excited like a 10 year old!
What a fantastic day yesterday in Aberdour. Met so many great people and won’t fall into the trap of mentioning everyone I met. However, a special heartfelt thanks to Mallorbhoy and Oldtim (you know the reason Bhoys!) and to my excellent chauffeur, Sannabhoy who returned me safely to The Shire. And to my playing partners Owen and Garry. Can’t wait for next year!
Jobo
TGCW
He Had a good life he never married :))
Used to say when he came to after the drink celtic were ALWAYS still talking to him :)))
I have decided to go by bus & train today Just COZ.
Fleagle numpty punter here (retired I was that bad) so to make people look good can I join your tipsters gang with IZZI TOP 3.15 GOODWOOD
paddtbhoy1888
Congratulations on your victory at the CQN Open!
Do you still play off scratch?
:0)
theglasgowcelticway on 4 August, 2012 at 08:39 said:
Walter Smith’s demanding proof Oldco acted illegally over EBT’s whilst he was in charge.Answer to that one is,OK.
if ever there was an admission of guilt
vmhan, probably wont make it in . got mini with me . looking forward to it. does the shammy have their tix in 115 ? if so, get them to come over and.say.hello.
albert kidd, youre a star, kevin’sa star, ima star- we’re all stars with the exception of dougc whos a megastar .
hail hail
leftclicktic on 4 August, 2012 at 10:01 said:
you can if you put it on the previous article….
So a hack gets a chance to ask old wattie about EBTs
Did he/she ask him if he had any
If so , how many
What were they for
When did he get them
Was he employed by ragers at the time
If not ,was he employed in football at the time
Oh and did he know if ragers ever paid any compensation when they poached him from the national post .
Or did he just write down verbatim watties message to the hordes
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that’s a hard one
Joe Filippis Haircut on 4 August, 2012 at 09:51
Watty’s argument falls foul at the first hurdle. Stupid hun.
See this First Tier Tax Tribunal. It’s an appeal. The stupid huns have already been found guilty. The onus is on them to prove the way in which they operated the EBT’s wasnt illegal.
In other words the supid huns have now to prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt.
Not to mention the fact that the stupid hun Smith just doesnt get it anyway. the SPL Independent Commission will be investigating Dual Contracts regardless of the legality of EBT’s.
stupid stupid huns.
Che on 4 August, 2012 at 10:04 said:
THANK YOU :))
Whilst listening to Billy Dodds lie through his teeth on Shortbread last night (hope the link gets posted bhoys),he has admitted to tax evasion.I hope Hector and his men will do the necessary.I’m sure the “interview” was probably Jabba’s idea to rehabilitate him publicly and save his job.Criminal.
che
You back from holiday in time for a beer today?
Barca
Well said and I will be using that reply along with ” ….and Peter Lawwell’s demanding your 9iar gets looked at too so I would stop the moaning if I were you.” ;)
The Myth needs to be seen to be saying something about the stolen titles just like the fat strip washer,they don’t want to walk through Hades with no eyes after all.
Philbhoy
Cut it oot that’s dangerous chat.
Mind you I did when I was dreaming through the night Ha
Cheers Paddybhoy
Bada Bing
thanks to
Foxy_1888 on 4 August, 2012 at 08:43 said:
Totally flummoxed for gas lol
Der Hunnes one and only Billy “liar liar pants on fire” Dodds presents to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oal6telsIfI&feature=share
If Quiet Jim and another couple of Sevcomedia inmates hadn’t been so quiet, this would have been cleared up ages ago:
“Stewart Regan V The Sevco [fixed that bit] Is a loan contractual?
Is a loan contractual?
Stewart Regan & Neil Doncaster have instructed an “Independent Tribunal” to analyse financial transactions concerning The Rangers Football Club.
Stewart Regan & Neil Doncaster insisted that The Rangers Football Club have no right of appeal, as a result of the “Independent Tribunal” analysis.
Denying a company the right to appeal against an alleged fraudulent transaction(s) inherently disrupts judicial process and may lead to prosecution.
The Rangers Football Club will defend the implementation of the EBT scheme wholeheartedly and any illegal sanctions will be debated in a court of law.
Quiet Jim.
————–
‘As far as I’m concerned Rangers treated these as loans (the way they were meant to be) so not contractual and no tax due and not required to be reported to SPL.
Celtic on the other hand – PAID TAX on theirs – therefore admitting they were a contractual obligation. They didn’t report theirs to SPL (at the time).’
At last someone that understands EBT’s.
Spot on! +
QJ
—————
‘How is it anyone’s right to say how quickly a loan must be repaid for it to be a loan?’
Now you are getting it.
Never a contract, just a loan.
QJ
————-
This is the issue. A loan can never be a contract, by definition.
I will pay so much back ………..
If I do not pay then …………..
Simples
Show me the contracts.
————-
‘So if Rangers were to go to court with this we would win it?’
Defo, if the SFA & the SPL, delivered their verdict before the final tax case judgement, their integrity and legal status would be compromised.
If they recommended sanctions, that were subsequently implemented, a legal challenge would be forthcoming.
QJ”
Sannabhoy no all our seats are dotted round CP….. See ye in the ground, I’ll be sporting the Green :>)
hamiltontim on 4 August, 2012 at 10:12
I am indeed, is there a few attending?
Probably be a wee bit later (not much) by the time I get the Oldest Green Brigader back home to the Calton and settled.
Comrades on the day that we unfurl the league flag lets not spend too much time or effort on the brown brogue brigade, they are what they are, they’ve done what they’ve done and they will eventually pay the consequences.
We are Celtic
We are The Champions
Enjoy your day wherever it may be.
Hail Hail
che
About 7 that I know of. See you there mate.
Teamtalk site is saying Ipswich are looking to buy Wilson from us, 250k.
That should cover wages he’s earned with us since signing.
For the information of all Scottish referees:
Just now in Super Rugby Final in NZ – Waikato Chiefs v Durban Sharks.
Sonny Bill Williams scores the clinching try, hurdles the fence, hugs the supporters and the security is relaxed enough.
No yellow cards anywhere to be seen. They tend to be kept for head-high tackles in rugby. Spot the difference.
BTW Magnus the “round ball” specialist wins the local rugby tipping competition. Motto? Watch what the bookies say. :-)