I loved the Leicester City story as much as any of you. Well, maybe not just as much. Leicester’s title win was astonishing, but it was no fairy story. They outperformed far wealthier clubs, sure, but this was achieved by spending the kind of money Celtic couldn’t dream of parting with.
Apart from their league win, Project Leicester was typical of the financial chicanery which has been prevalent in English football for so long, and which Financial Fair Play seeks to end.
Right now they are in freefall. If they go down, loaded with an underperforming squad on eye-wateringly high salaries, they will find it impossible to downsize sufficiently to give anyone sitting around the King Power Stadium boardroom table that they will be able to achieve stability in the Championship.
Once you drop out of the Enland and Wales Premier League, the biggest parachute in the world simply isn’t big enough. Two of the three Championship relegation places are currently occupied by recent Premier League clubs. Aston Villa, twice the size of Leicester but with a far smaller wage bill, are currently 17th. Leicester will look ominously at Blackpool, 14th in League Two, and appreciate how rapidly a Premier League relegation fight can turn into something altogether more serious.
Claudio Ranieri is a football hero, but even from the outside it has been plain to see that something has been seriously wrong under his control in recent months. His comments before the Sevilla game, “we know they are the better team”, spoke of a man who didn’t believe in himself or his players anymore.
It is never easy to spot when a managerial hero should move on from a club where he’s loved, exect in hindsight. Clough was the greatest English manager, but stayed on far too long at Nottingham Forest. Relegation was his reward.
Jock Stein’s sacking as Celtic manager in 1978 was shabbily handled, as was the way at the club back then. I was too young to know the best of Jock’s years at Celtic, but I remember the grief he got from the terraces during his last four seasons, when Rangers (remember them?) won three titles and two trebles.
No one will tell you they got on Jock’s case back then, but it happened. Football fans in the 1970s took no prisoners.
Looking back, Jock stayed too long at Celtic. He produced miracles for five years then managed decline for eight. He should have taken the Manchester United job when offered. Clough squeezed two League Cups out of his squad in 1989 and 1990 and should have headed for this hills right then.
As for Claudio, he should have bowed out a champion in May. He didn’t have managerial alchemy after all, it was inevitable that performances would return to his normal trend this season. Someone at Leicester had to take responsibility. That’s football – and it’s not even a modern aspect of it.
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Art of War on 25th February 2017 1:11 am
petec- haven’t met a Decent Rangers Supporter in about 4 years.
Plenty of sevcoites though.
But even the Sevs are jumping ship.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
It was a 7 ….1 situation. 7 huns and 1 wee Tim, relocated back to Govan, I listened all week, they went through the whole book. Everything they threw to get a bite.
I just said yesterday that Brexit is going to be Great.
Celtic will be moving and Grooving on Up.
Sam Cooke – Movin´and Groovin´
Look Below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHCKL2II5GM
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5BEIojW8AAuc9p.jpg
Young Bhoys of Barrowfield
HH
Love is a Killer
YES
Petec
You have strong mental and physical strength.
You could lead this lost tribe of 7 lost souls.
God’s strength my friend.
HH
roy croppie on 25th February 2017 1:25 am
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5BEIojW8AAuc9p.jpg
Young Bhoys of Barrowfield
HH
……………………………………………………………….
I’d Love THIS Celtic team to be playing on THAT pitch.
Patience, always.
Nice talking ghuy,s, time to meet some great Oz tims
and sup Guinness.
H.H Mick
Delaneys Dunky,
G thang, I’m Nothing.
allow it
G-man, i still see an uber hun most mornings. His nose is askew after making a mistake about targeting my wee brother many moons ago. He was put right.
He doesn’t talk football or fenians now but i can still see that hope.
Shame.
You are Pedro the Dumbarton Rock.
HH
petec, how you doing buddy?
Yiu do know that i found you to be excellent company?
Hope you are good.
https://youtu.be/6ul-cZyuYq4
Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
Martybhoy
been thinking of you since I read your news. I’ve had extensive cardio treatment in both the GJ and the GRI due to heart failure, you couldn’t be in better hands mhate. I’m back leading a full life and the daily dose of tablets are a small price to pay. If you ever need a chat I’m here but I’m confident you’ll make a full recovery and enjoy the good times ahead.
YNWA
ffs,
tell me Something I don’t know.
Oh Happy Days
AoW
Never take your eyes aff your hun neebors.
Neebor nice hun of mine got 5 years for the UDA guns found in Knightswood.
Roy C- you offering to sell drugs on this hallowed site? Mods, mods…
..and can i gave an ounce of coke?
https://youtu.be/4s7CqLuzp5A
The WATERBOYS
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
HH
DD, AOW, Kouassi is going to be like David.
Unless, a determined Hater, wants to, Destroy.
The Links between the Old Testament and the New are Awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uguScvZfnhg
AOW
I could make a fortune :))
Delaneys Dunky on 25th February 2017 1:40 am
AoW
Never take your eyes aff your hun neebors.
Neebor nice hun of mine got 5 years for the UDA guns found in Knightswood.
………………………………………………………………………..
I know it is RadicaL…. Pray for Him, he is Misguided.
Ain’t no Sunshine
Petec
Kouassi’s core strength is our advantage.
This big African laddie will be a superstar.
Happy Days
HH
MELBOURNE MICK on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 1:09 AM
Mate.
We were in Port Arthur about one year before that massacre . We all spent time in the cafe where it started.
Two couples and seven kids.
There but for the grace of god.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 1:53 AM
Petec
Kouassi’s core strength is our advantage.
This big African laddie will be a superstar.
Happy Days
HH
=====================================================
I get the impression that Brendan signed him for a specific purpose.
Midfield enforcer.
aka Hatchet man.
We shall see.
I’m sure the olde DBBIA , has Looked @ the Book …. efter his Time off.
There is an Actual Key to Unlock it Y’all.
You Must Believe.
Hey oh
ROY CROPPIE on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 1:37 AM
Keep well , mate.
You`re needed here.
Aye when it came to Celtic custodians big Jock knew.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQfjIw3mivc
Logical Song
ScottySinclairCSC
Goodnight Troops
HH
MacJay
Not hatchet type. Skill with strength type.
Very excited about this new bhoy.
Looks like a Tim. :)
Delaneys Dunky,
I hope to be hoisting you up on ma shoulders One Day.
The Green and White most prominent.
67
MACJAY1
But for the grace of god right enough, that nutter hunted
down kids hiding behind trees etc and slaughtered them
the whole place had a strange aura about it.
Must go now, my drink buddies are waiting on my words
of wisdom lol, skippy’s dad and brother being a couple of
them.
H.H Mick
Petec
In the heat of Lisbon.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 2:06 AM
Can we settle for ” uncompromising ” ?
:-)
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 2:04 AM
Reminds me of the rationalising of the attitude of the ” poor white trash ” from the Deep South by suggesting that they hated negroes because they had nobody else to look down on.
We really should sympathise.
Aye right.
MELBOURNE MICK on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 2:09 AM
Enjoy your guineas , mate.
:-)
DD….. macjay is the best on here now because he is disliked so much, Everyone Knows NOthing, Nothing At all.
Bros
:))
Sinclair, Magical
MacJay
Uncompromising is a good Sao Paolo Whiteinch term used for me. Our African new bhoy is a cracker. Watched loads of his games on youtube last few weeks. Brendan can identify a player for sure.
Eboue. My name is Eboue.
CELTIC always.