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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With “the gap” now being so big and Sevco clearly struggling financially, I think it’s only fair that we gift them something we own at no cost.
How about we give them the Biscuit Tin?
Babasonicos71
Are you bringing Aoife to CQN Corner?
JJ
PS HELLO Aoife !!
HotSmoked
”Twas a direct quote Sir.
Yon thingies so much beloved my teachers of literature!
;-)
HH jamesgang
THELURKINTIM 741
Try fixing a puncture on yer van in the pishin rain and howlin wind we had down here overnight.
In the middle of nowhere.
Wi the Dinky-toy kit supplied by the manufacturer.
There are some things it’s fun to do,fumbling about in the dark. That isnae one of them!
Btw,that cider you mentioned. You have to chill the arse off it first
Babasonicos71
I can only hope it’s a song and dancethon for the 90, where yous situated? Taking them into the North Corner?…..;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
HOT SMOKED on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 9:35 AM
smokey toon to celtic park .how long and what route.??????????????
HOT SMOKED, Bits and Pieces by the DC Five would be appropriate for the Ersatz club as well.
BABASONICOS
I hope Aoise has a day to remember!
Btw,I replied to your request t’other day when I got up for work,but you may have missed it.
bmcuwp@gmail.com
Remind her to get all the autographs so you can frame them for her wall.
Babas
What a beautiful name you chose for your wee girl, hope she likes the Celtic today.
Corner = Curve ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
sorry,that should have read Aoife.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 9:47 AM
mini car jack £25, spider wheel brace £10.every good taxi driver will tell you.
HOTSMOKED. 933
Aye,but you’re not doing the driving!
Hot Smoked @ 09.33 hrs.
Unfortunately I’m presently working away from home on a 3 / 3 rota.
When I’m not physically able to make games my ST goes to a good home.
After all in the words of our greatest ever manager ” Football is nothing without fans”.
HH.
FAVOURITE UNCLE
I coulda done it in ten minutes with the equipment back at the yard. Bliddy hour!
I’m gonna take it out on some Guinness in Bath today. I don’t think that counts as insider trading,buy shares in them now!
The great Brian Mathews has just ended his long stint as compere of “Sounds of the Sixties”. He has made it my favourite radio programme. Always brings back great memories (and not just of Celtic!!).
BMCUWP…..
Isn’t that why your company pays a fortune for fleet cover…..u report it….hope yer covered…..and listen to tunes….waiting for help to arrive…..obviously if ye canny fix it yersell first ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 9:57 AM
enjoy BOBBY.12 weeks nae drink for me.stomach acid.lost a stone in weight.next drink 17th march ,grandsons birthday and some other reason which has escaped me.
THELURKINTIM
If I was waiting for fleet cover,that would be my whole weekend trashed.
FAVOURITE UNCLE
God Bless your Grandson,he sure loves his oul’ papa!
Thanks for the mentions about Aoife,appreciated.
I’d imagine we’ll need to make our CQN corner debut another time,she’s a shy wee thing.
And no North Curve for us,unfortunately,although we get a great view of it from our seats in 141.
BOBBY,you’ve got mail.
Last day in Berlin .. weather looks better today .. checkpoint Charlie then kreuzberg visit today.
Might head to hertha berlin game later
Great city
I have some heartfelt thanks to pass on to The Rangers…
I get married on the 1st April in the south side of Glasgow. There is a match at Ibrox on that day and I was fretting and stressing about the early afternoon traffic for guests and my beautiful bride getting to the venue. However, in the last few weeks TRFC have pulled out all the stops to make sure the attendance at Ibrox is as low as possible for my special day. Thanks guys – it really means a lot to me.
I’m welling up here.
Miss Prestonpans is full of the cold and can’t make the game, offered her ticket to Mrs Prestonpans who surprisingly accepted it. First question she asks is ……is that standing area you are in that mental……she’ll find oot soon !
Fav Unc
Arbroath, Dundee, Perth , Stirling,Tolcross exit. paradise. About 100 miles.
Ron Bacardi
I am sure there are many more !
BMCUW
Just as well I am not driving as I am having a glass of wine ( a Rioja recommended by TET) with my `Brunch`.
Greenpinata
I can imagine it`s a bit of a bummer missing games this season in particular. My Celtic scarf has that quote on it.
Parheadcumsalford
Was that a replay? I thought I heard Tim Vine presenting the show of late.
JJ
Mick,
am thinking…..but for the the sake of a wheel Security Nut…..job done in ten….whit a pisser ;-))
that’llteachyeCSC
FTSFA
H.H.
BABASONICOS71
No excuse ! Old Tim is also ` a shy wee thing.` and he makes an occasional visit to the Corner 0:-)
Davidopoulos @ 10:12.
Very good 0:-))
JJ
HOT SMOKED,
No, it was his last ever. Ti Rice has been standing in for the last couple of months. I’m not sure if he will be returning from next week. Brian Mathews said he himself would be returning to Radio 2 in another programme in the near future. I wonder. He sounded poorly.
Ti=Tim (what a mistake).
Gonna miss todays game, didn’t get home until midnight, and back to work tomorrow, so some family time needed, haven’t been home since last Sunday. Work is getting in the way, any jobs going locally:-)
Enjoy todays game fholks, and give the Bhoys a cheer.
BABASONICOS71 on 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 9:42 AM
Goodest morning fholks.
My wee ghirl Aoife,who’s 8,is making her Celtic Park debut today.Hope the weather clears up a bit for her first game.My bhoy,my ghirl and me all watching the bhoys together,hoopy days. ;))
*******
Aoife….missing U always.
I am looking forward to the day when things are so bad that the Ibrox die-hards are insisting that it is not the same club.
Davidopolous,
seriously…..April fools day in Glasgow….married……whit a joke ;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
If the rain stays off I might drag oldtim to the corner today again☘️☘️
My own father will be at his usual spot with his usual cheery welcome for all
Parkheadcumsalford,
Thanks for that information. I am now pleased that I heard the final BM show. I agree he sounded a wee bit hoarse.
IKI
Very good !!
JJ
BT
He ( your father) does look a cheery sort doesn` t he ? 0:-)))
Hard to imagine Moussa having a blether at the Corner fifty years down the line !
JJ
Hope young Aoife enjoys her first game
I used to take mini at that age and took her Nintendo game bhoy as she was bored( it was the WGS era)
Now she just can’t get enough and is in the standing section living every minute of it
Police Scotland have called for calm and assistance as they continue their search for
Davey Kings big blue and white biscuit tin.
Davey Kings big blue and white biscuit tin