Fascinating headline in The Sun today, proclaiming England’s five wealthiest clubs are “in talks to leave Champions League”, completely missing the irony that Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have been planning to do without Champions League football all season.
Directors of those clubs, Arsenal and Manchester City, met in London to discuss the possibility of binning the Champions League in favour of a competition where Europe’s wealthiest were invited to participate, without the need to qualify. The meeting was attended by US sports entrepreneur, Stephen Ross.
There are a few points worth making:
The clubs leaked this story to The Sun. The intention is not to plot a breakaway, but to be seen to be plotting.
Breakaways have been threatened in football since the 1970s US ‘soccer’ league wanted to acquire top European players without paying transfer fees. They have never happened. Only change based on approval has ever been possible.
European law would stop such a breakaway in its tracks. The European Union allows football to operate various cartels under terms known as the Specificity of Sport. The game is already testing the boundaries of these provisions (which may be worth testing in court), but any move to like this would have no chance of succeeding.
Change
Change of some sort is inevitable, there is just too much money to be made for it not to happen. The risk is that the wealthy clubs put enough money on the table (or in brown envelopes) to get their own way.
Clubs in Europe will not allow their competitiveness in relation to clubs in England diminish.
Clubs in England will not perpetually allow their premium games against Barcelona et al to generate less revenue than games against Norwich City.
Top clubs in England have already tired of sharing around £1billion a year with smaller clubs who contribute little to the pot.
I know people are alarmed by this but as one of the already disenfranchised, we have little to lose. The status quo is squeezing the life out of our game. We need change. Most of all someone to put the money on the table required to create a meritocratic European weekend league – like Gazprom did with Russia and Ukraine.
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ChicagoBhoy-
I was six years old when I attended my first game.
To this day a return home to Paradise to sit beside my uncle brings out goosebumps, as I recall my hand in his as a youngster climbing the steps for the first time and being immersed in the noise, and atmosphere that only Celtic Park can generate.
Make sure you tell everyone you meet its your first time, and you will be made to feel welcome.
HH.
Anyone know anything about the boy, Liam Burt, who made his Sevs debut last night and who, apparently, we are trying to sign . Think he may have been a youth player with us. I assume he has a Celtic background as we are unlikely to prise away the Bridgeton true blue type. Just curious …..don’t know where he comes from or much about him. Getting a good press, but it could be MSM hype.
Corkcelt
Well said .
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND MARCH 2016 5:08 PM
The Green Man
Paint Celtic supporters faces onto the seats in the Dookit?. Fill unoccupied areas
———————————————————-
Whoa hold on there, don’t be so hasty with the paint brushes.
Remember the controversy when Arsenal painted fans faces on to a mural at the old Highbury when they were building a new seated stand.
Stand the brushes down:-)
HH.
Was there not someone called Burt who was involved in Celtic Films many years ago? Possibly related. Not that common a name.
bournesouprecipe on 2nd March 2016 5:17 pm
Got that so far; Allan; Roberts……
I take it you’re following the usual presentation of the line up, starting with goalkeeper and working your way out……? :))
The list of MSM headlines displayed by Newsnow Celtic just seem on an ever increasing downward spiral that generates negativity and critisizm for all things Celtic FC.
And it’s not just the usual gutter SMSM either, other countries seem intent on following their jaded example. That’s syndication, I suppose.
Bampotery now more crucial in the greater scheme of things more than ever to redress the balance.
Don’tBelieveTheHypeCSC
Good evening friends.
Housework all done, short fatbhoyslim run completed, home made soup at the ready and then, to top it all, I have the privilege of attending tonight’s game in person to cheer on the Champions of Scotland. Life’s Good!
Wee snippet from sport headlines on radio Scotland:
“Aberdeen have the chance to close the gap on Celtic at the top when they travel to Tannadice tonight.
Celtic are also in action, they take on Dundee at Celtic park”
…..errrr….there are other possibilities missus……..
Greenpinata
Yip. It’s a big undertaking but I think we’ve got the artists to make sure that every group in the broad church has their fissog, somewhere in Paradise.
It has to be better than reducing the capacity just because we’ve some got temporary flouncers?
What’s the point in bigger Pie Stalls? – just make the pies bigger.
HH
https://twitter.com/BraidenHT/status/705088088217882624
Roberts starts tonight
glendalystonsils @ 6.01
Classic BBC
Hope ole Chicagobhoy happens by the ole Gazebo this evening.
Share the anticipation and excitement around.
Gonna be a cold one so here’s hoping for a lot of jumping up and down to keep us warm in the stands.
What chance a first half huddle?
The eurochampsmobile automatic pilot to lower EK for the ole Bournesouprecipe then onwards to Paradise.
HH
Eurochamps67
OnegaryharkinstellthetruthgaryharkinsonegaryharkinsCSC
Bournsouprecipe
You could be right , we certainly have a few artists, unfortunately maybe the wrong type.
I totally get your point about bigger pies. Subsequently ,diets are for losers, just buy bigger trousers :-)
HH.
Liam Burt is a midfielder, personally I think we have way way too many of them already, 17 at the last count.
So, one of the main advantages we have over the diedco club is a stadium with a capacity 10k higher.
Wee Fergus knew what advantage that gave us then and we should never forget it now.
It played a massive part in thems over-reaching their means to keep up
Now we have folk on here telling us how good an idea it will be to throw that advantage away.
Aye right you are – good wan!!
Hehehehehehe
Mr pastry
Just to clarify from last night.
I am not a PL / Ronny hater. I think Peter Lawell does an excellent job for Celtic and I am very much pro Ronny. While I believe people have a right to an opinion, I think a lot of the criticisms are way over the top.
As for wanting to canonise Neil Lennon, far from it. I think after the Barcelona result, he knew the only way was down and he was seeking a move down south while he could get it. I also felt that performances in cup ties was poor in a number of instances, particularly against Morton and Aberdeen at home where the team just did not turn up. I would be strongly opposed to the return of Neil Lennon as manager.
However while I hold these views , I still feel that I must acknowledge the external pressures he had to deal with.
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
They come from bonnie Scotland, they come from county Cork,
They come from dear old Donegal and even from New York,
From every street in Glasgow they proudly make their way,
To a place called dear old paradise and this is what they say.
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
There’s Fallon, Young and Gemmell who proudly wear the green,
There’s Clark, McNeill and Kennedy the best there;s ever been,
Jim Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, John Divers and John Hughes,
And sixty thousand Celtic fans who proudly sing the news.
Celtic, Celtic thats the team for me,
Celtic, Celtic on to victory,
They’re the finest team in Scotland, I’m sure you will agree,
We’ll never give up till we’ve won the cup and the Scottish football league.
RepeatToFade CSC
Spot on Paul, get your priorities right….
Dundee boss Paul Hartley says tonight’s clash with Celtic is the perfect opportunity for his fringe men to audition for a Scottish Cup starting spot.
The Dark Blues gaffer admits he will shuffle his pack this evening at Parkhead with one eye on the trip to Rangers for a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
Paul is expected to hand Nicky Low a start and Arturo and Craig Wighton are also expected to get a fair chunk of gametime, with the manager giving a rest to key men such as Greg Stewart, Gary Harkins and Kane Hemmings.
He said: “This is the chance for players who maybe haven’t had much of a chance.
“But it is an important game for us. We are caught in between really. The team has given me sleepless nights.
“We need to look at the whole squad for Celtic.
“It’s about being clever and picking the best team for Wednesday and for Saturday.”
Thomas Konrad will play no part, and remains a doubt for the weekend clash at Ibrox, while Darren O’Dea will also sit out the return to his old club in favour of Saturday.
Paul continued: “Konrad is ruled out and O’Dea will not play either. Darren will be OK for the weekend. Thomas trained but he felt his ankle. We are not sure about him for Saturday.
“We have to use the whole squad over the next few games. It’s a good challenge for the players and for myself.”
Dundee Evening Telegraph
Good Luck to Ronny and the Bhoys tonight against the Bonnie Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee. H.H.
The Arabs are coming into a bit of form, they have won their last 2 SPFL games, the great escape is on. They will be well up for to-night There could be worried sheep about tonight.
Hi..
Just heard that Dundee are resting their better players tonight therefore 5-0 tae the Tic……
Good luck to the Celts tonight. Not too many games to go.
Out the door and down the road now with my sister. 143 for her and me.
CHRISTINA HENDIKS
Glen@6:01
To be fair to the BBC they are so pish poor they probably don’t know Celtic are playing tonight…….
Chicagobhoy welcome to Paradise.
Chicagobhoy
HH and enjoy
Doors to automatic…..compass to The Corner……
Even more importantly
Kevj
Prayers will be said for tomorrow
Keep the faith Junglebhoy
Chicagobhoy
Welcome to Paradise. Pop over to Pools Office and say hello.
Hail Hail
Time GMS was canned
Up to me id go with
————————Bailly——————–
Lustig. Boyata. Erik. Tierney
————Brown. Bitton————–
—P.Roberts. Rogic. Armstrong—
————-Griffiths——————
I hope Paul Hartley’s Dundee do a right good job this weekend.
The tribute act need their wings clipped yet again this season
When the new club set out on their journey they were so desperate to be taken for Rangers that they immediately acted like Rangers.
They booked into luxury hotels ahead of games at Brechin and Forfar. They paid McCoist £750k salary, they signed experienced players and had an older player as captain.
They failed to develop players. Failed to build a team.
Ronny would not be the Celtic manager if Rangers didn’t die. He is a development coach doing the manager’s job at Celtic.
He is going to win the league, just like he did last year.
The new club won the third and second division without developing a young team and that cost them last year when Hearts showed them how it’s done and a poor Motherwell side couldn’t believe their own luck in the play-offs.
Remember the score. Motherwell 6 The new club 1.
Ronny has one cup from last year and could yet win another. He may have to face the new club in that competition.
For all the negatives about Ronny, he uniquely for a Celtic manager has been building tomorrow’s Celtic in the unspoken knowledge that we had to do it this way, to drive us to Ten and to have a side that Celtic develop good enough for Europe.
This is how we will look back on Ronny and we won’t see the fruits of his labour until next season – when it will start to really matter.
I don’t know if Ronny will survive a summer review to remain manager. I suspect renewals could influence that and to stand a good chance he might require to win the double.
That’s why I think he will send out a side tonight to entertain and attack. What’s he got to lose?
If he is replaced as manager then I hope that he is kept on as Developnent manager, a crucial role at our club.
Posting on bus on way to game so apologies for typos.
Warburton’s sourdough bread.
Mulgrew in midfield, at home to Dundee? Criminal
I see STV thought it right to ask HA manager about Boyata’s red card. Basically, he thinks as the ball didn’t change direction, then it was. (When did this become a criterion?)
I didn’t see them asking our manager if that thug McKinnon should have been red carded too. I wonder why.
So much for Stubbsy as manager, losing 3 in a row. Not very good. Fancy the Sheep to fold and bet the Arabs,11/2, with btts. Hope young Roberts starts tonight. Don’t wand a repeat of Friday’ miserable show.HH
Florida Bhoy
Like you, I started supporting Celtic when I was six also and still going strong …. arrived at 5pm for tonight’s game and settling down now after a lovely meal in the Lounges…. HH and …
SAY HELLO TO THE YANKEES…..!!!!