Former Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. During Bolton’s 18 year Premier League tenure, Gartside wanted Celtic and Rangers in the league, as part of a reorganisation which would have seen a second tier Premier League created.
His motivation was the realisation that English football’s model was inherently dysfunctional. Teams like Bolton would over-commit to the player contracts necessary to keep them in the league, but with everyone else doing the same thing, it was only a matter of time before they finished in the bottom three. Less than 3 years since relegation Bolton face a winding-up order this month over a £2.2m debt to HMRC.
‘The Gartside Plan’ for league reorganisation found little support among his Premier League peers. Each passing TV deal poured ever-more money into the Premier League but the model remains dysfunctional. Those relegated regularly face dire consequences – and that’s before the bubble bursts.
As English and Welsh clubs who have dropped out of the Premier League continue to deal with the consequences, Europe’s mega-rich clubs are unhappy with their return from Champions League football. The relative democratisation of Champions League qualification, introduced by Michel Platini, which sees more clubs from smaller countries reach the group stage, is seen as a problem to some of Europe’s richest.
They want games against Manchester United, not Dinamo Zagreb. So do TV companies and sponsors. The football industry in Europe operates a series of EU sanctioned cartels. These sanctioned exceptions were granted on the basis that football is a sport, not a conventional business. The more top clubs act like businesses, not sporting institutions, the more reason to tear down the walls of these carters.
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There was comment earlier blaming Charlie for the opening goal in the 2011 defeat at Inverness that cost us a league.
Charlie was unlucky with that deflection but his positioning was woeful and, if you watch the video, he was woeful throughout. He was even partially at fault for the last goal that was blamed wholly on Izzy. Look at the video.
Charlie Mulgrew mistakes
The association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs produced a badge to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. We hope to have them on sale at our event:
http://www.aicsc.com/aicsc-1916-centenary-badge/
BILLYBEAR
Supposedly…but shhh.
There is a trap door somewhere inside….you know where.
Seemingly…you go into it, and when you come out….its 1967.
So…dont say i never warned you:)
HH
United v City U21s
Compare & Contrast our Development Squad – watched both games.
Our Bhoys 3-5 years younger and in general looked no different to what was on show in Manchester – apart from a few areas.
U/C played on a smaller pitch and looked slightly faster/compact. Probably both U/C back-4s looked a bit more robust/compact than ours (though City’s were dragged all over the place on a few occasions).
Slow build-ups – maybe a bit more organised and better first touch but nothing to suggest that any of these U/C guys will make an impact in their first teams. Kind of obvious that kids (ours included) that don’t get regular ‘hard’ (old reserve type football) are not really ready to bridge the gap.
Maybe plucking the odd one or two from U/C has its merits – getting into CFC first team possibly/probably easier. Secret is – getting the ‘one’ that we can pay for and convert into a first team regular (before selling on).
For the moment, we seem to have our feet under the table at U/C – will be interesting to see how it pans out when Pep and Jose (tbc) roll up in the summer!
Providing Mulgrew with a comeback opportunity against EK was eminently sensible. To have himself and Brown – also just back from long-term injury – against Aberdeen would not have been. Can some not be sensible instead of always looking for an excuse to criticise ? Stupidity levels never cease to amaze.
MM: it is. I’ve been trying to get one for the last four years. Again, as HT might say, much as Gracias.
Tapadh leat, go raibh maith agat.
I thought rangers were still being liquidised …
Muchas = muchas
COWIEBHOY on 11TH FEBRUARY 2016 9:49 PM
Hoopy Birthday from the Roasters Fan Clu…:)
On Charlie Mulgrew, not for me.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Squire D
Charlie told the bench as soon as the goal was scored, he also spoke too and positioned Allen, prior to walking off in that game, from what I saw :-)
Irrespective, I believe at 29 he still has something to offer Celtic, be that in Centre of defence ( even as cover, remember he can also cover left back) or as defensive midfielder
Hail Hail
I think Billybear is really a Billybhoy.
I blame Mrs TET for choosing thems this week, I told her the teams I could pick and she told me to pick the huns, so it’s her fault.
Cowiebhoy
I’d offer Mulgrew a contract. He can fill in in a number of positions and is still one of the best passers in the current squad. Get him fit and I’d try him in the holding role.
SFTB
Linky no worky
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZttznHjQPO4
Forgot how bad that was
TBJ SAYS WEE OSCAR KNOX IS IN HEAVEN WITH THE ANGELS on 11TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:18 PM
I thought rangers were still being liquidised …
They’ve gone to the great juicer in the sky
…….but ssssshhhhh, don’t tell Billybear, you might upset him.
Lennybhoy :-)
He is better than many of the recent signings in my view, and as pointed out his ability to cover 2 or 3 positions is a bonus
Name a better holding midfielder in our current squad ?
Or a better centre half :-)
Hail Hail
Cowiebhoy 10:22
I don’t agree, I know what I saw. If CM is to have a future at Celtic, the only place I would find for him would be cover at LB.
Croftbhoy 10:16 – Pardon me for expressing an opinion on an open blog. I will try to display less “stupidity” in future.
Enjoy the above video and what C Mulgrew at CB brings to the party.
Charlie Mulgrew.
Capable CB, decent LB, but not a midfielder in my opinion.
Does have good delivery from set pieces.
May be our best option as a holding midfielder, but that is only as the alternatives aren’t any good.
Still worth a contract though.
The Green Man
Re gravitational waves.
To paraphrase a line from ‘The Martian’, they ‘scienced the shit out of it ‘ today, but they still couldnae de-liquidise Rangers!
The problem with Billybear’s posts are that they’re too shit and myth.
Can we use Mulgrew like an NFL kicker?
Bring him on for FKs and corners?
Squire D
Your opinion is welcome, even if your wrong :-)))
Every player can have a bad game, as per video
I know Charlie lacks pace, but he is still our best options as holding defensive midfielder, and as pointed out by HT, one of our better passers and crossers of the ball
Doc
Do you see any signs of us signing a better holding midfielder ?
Not many big Vic’s to be found
Hail Hail
BEATBHOY
Like TET says…I think Billybear is really Billybhoy.
He likes a wind-up.
HG. Wells…The Time Machine…watch out for the Morlocks…..The year 5155….Rangers are still deid, but their fans still survive:)
HH
CowieBhoy, no, can’t say I do.
So as I say, Charlie is worth another contract.
And I would have to say, in our price bracket, we would struggle to find another player as good as him.
Another Wanyama is just wishful thinking, but hey, I’m an optimist.
Good to see you back on here btw:-)
James forrest and Charlie mulgrew … both out of contract in summer
Personally I wouldn’t give either a new contract. . We have gms and paddy boy for next season so I don’t even see James getting a game
Charlie may be needed over the next few months at holding mid or even centre half especially with Jozo injured. But we Defo need a holding mid fielder in the summer
Charlie, on his game, is a fine footballer. Just needs to be on his game more often! But as I’m a glass half-full type, I prefer to think of him in the league-winning hiding of Kilmarnock where he destroyed them that day.
Also the best COYBIG I’ve heard, one end of Rugby Park to another. That was a good day.
Can any of you lads help me out here? My mammy’s (Donegal) favourite song was the Foggy Dew, she sang it at any party we had. However, there was a line that she sang and I’ve always sung since, which is different from what I hear now. We’ve always sung, because of ma mammy, “Britannia’s sons with their long range guns.” Now I hear it’s ‘huns’. Is this a new addition or was ma mammy just being polite for us weans of her’s?
Never trust ACGR when it comes to women. He will be telling us next that Nancy Spain was an old flame.
Cowiebhoy
Happy birthday auld yin :)
Acgr
Good to see you posting again bud, pass
on my birthday wishes to your mum and
sister.
Doc
” And I would have to say, in our price bracket, we would struggle to find another player as good as him.”
Agree 100%, he maybes slows the game down but they way we are playing at the mo, you really wouldny notice :-)
I would defo give him another contract, but I very much doubt he will be with us next season, he will be championship bound me thinks, Pedro won’t weigh in imo.
HH
Ole Albert’s done it again.
More feathers in his cap than Sitting Bull.
TBJ
We have needed a holding mid since Vic left, Pedro and his sidekick are still looking….
HH
Celt55
I’ve always known it to be “Britania’s Huns….”
Cowiebhoy 10:44
What u mean I’m WRONG :D
If WGS is happy to play Broon/Mulgrew as the 2 in a 4231for Scotland it could work for Celtic if the rest of the setup was right.
That’s a big ‘if’ though. It also gives the option of what some would see as further downsizing by re-jigging the MF 3, and punting either Bitton or Johansen, 2 of our more sellable assets at present, as surplus to requirements.
Not for me. The place needs cleared out and I get the impression that both player and club would benefit from Mulgrew moving on.
on Charlie Mulgrew ….
he was great the year he won his spl player of the year … but since then has slipped …
decent, but not good as a cb … too slow and gets turned too easily
decent but not good as a lb … same as above ..
definitely not a central mid … particularly when we played with 4 in the middle …
however, where I thought he did do a decent job was when we played almost 5 across the middle …. decent left foot, which is always useful (and decent for free kicks) and it meant he didn’t have to turn/move quite as much …
for me, he is a bit like Scott Brown … would have him in games where we are up against a better team, and we need to stifle the game…
having said that … I cant actually remember when we played 5 in the middle with CM … so I could be havering!
HH to good birthday ghirls and bhoys
Sleep well Timland
HH
KTF
Come on the Token :-)
Hamiltontim on 11th February 2016 10:58 pm
Thanks for the reply, every version I’ve looked up says huns, but I always wondered if the original way back might have been altered, to suit the times.
Celt55
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foggy_Dew_(Irish_ballad)
Interesting take on the meaning/origin of the line you refer to
Mike in Toronto,
thank you kindly good sir!
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token