We’ve Done It Before And We’ll Do It Again
I know the article on Thursday reads like I’m a harbinger of doom a la Private Fraser,and to be perfectly honest I really don’t see us doing enough next season to regain our title. But that’s not to say that it is impossible. It has been done before,after all.
Jock Stein did the impossible while only signing two players,Joe McBride and Willie Wallace. Billy McNeill MkI only signed Provan McLeod and Sullivan to turn the team from struggling against relegation into champions. Second time around,he had to stop the Souness juggernaut without McLeod,McClair,Judas and MacInally. Didn’t stop him from succeeding!
Wim Jansen had a major rebuild,bringing in Darren Jackson,Gould,Rieper,Burley,Lambert,Mahe,Harald and Henrik. This against the cash-guzzling huns going for ten,but BOOM!!! and GIRUY! That’s EIGHT oven ready first team players,which is more than I think we need now,incidentally. Martin O’Neill needed Sutton,Valgaaren,Douglas,Thommo,Lennon,Vega and Agathe, Tore the huns a new one in the process.
Gordon Strachan did it the other way round,losing the big names and replacing them with the likes of Boruc,Zurawski,Wilson and Naka along with a few more best not talked about! He also brought McManus and McGeady in as first choices.
All of the above inherited a team which had just had a shocking season,as we have just had. Brendan Rodgers inherited a winning team that needed a kick up the arse,an arm round the shoulder and some proper coaching. In fact,he only signed two first choice players to add to the squad-though he got rid of a few toxic ones too. Result-The Invincible Treble!
There’s a Magnificent Seven turnarounds in that list,and while Rodgers and to a lesser extent Strachan could probably have been expected to win,the others certainly weren’t. They too had been brought in as firefighters in a disaster zone,bequeathed to them by their predecessor or circumstances,poor management oversight,you name it. Celtic have never been known to build from a position of strength,and in fact it could be said with some justification-and no little anger!-that we are our own worst enemies. Indeed,many of the successes above have been followed by some abject failures! But we have also been the perennial underdog,battling against forces from within the game and without who would deny us our very existence. And our record as shown suggests that having our backs to the wall,we come out fighting with a renewed vigour.
Get the appointments right,bring in the oven ready first team players,bring through a smattering of the youngsters,that seems to be the message that our recent past tells us how to succeed. We’ve done it before,and we’ll do it again!!!
Above article by BMCUWP
BMCUWP I hope you are right, the first year BR was here he improved the players who were here so much it was hard to believe it was the same team
The old guys on here will remember how frustrating it was for us knowing the ability of the playing squad before Jock arrived
And as you said look at big Jock, he took the most frustrating to watch individuals, who one minute were world class and the next game wouldn’t make our street team, but he turned them into team players and that is the secret, Everyone pulling in the same direction and knowing the direction they are going
We all have had teachers or bosses who got that extra oomph out of us, they had the knack of reading people and what guidance they needed to help them improve. We had a saying where I used to work , let the people clearly know what you want them to do, don’t wait until they are doing what you don’t want them to doI hope we find the right guy
You should set that post to music Bobby. Very lyrical with an optimism that I share.
If we go into next season without belief, then we’re as well handing the title to Sevco right now. We do need mega change to justify such optimism and waiting for vital decision makers to be appointed is most frustrating. None of us know, and the endless speculation is hard to take. I’d love it if the new manager can’t be announced yet because he is with another club at present.
We’ve done that before too.
Neil McCann fears £700k tax bill for EBTs as he battles ex-wife over £1million divorce
McCann told a court he fears a £700,000 tax bill for controversial EBTs — as he battles his ex-wife over their £1million divorce.
He admitted to law chiefs he is deeply worried by the prospect of being held liable for the huge sum relating to payments made to him during his time at Rangers.
” I wasn’t aware of this when I signed the contract and it causes me huge concerns.”
The Light Blues began making payments through the Employee Benefits Trust in 2001.
The tax-free loans did not have to paid back by recipients.
But in 2010 the scheme was outlawed and the club investigated by HMRC over £47million of handouts to players.
The following year, Sir David Murray sold the club to Craig Whyte for £1 and in February 2012 it plunged into administration.
The bitter legal wrangle between Gers and HMRC became known as the Big Tax Case, which later saw the club liquidated — before a “newco” was formed and allowed into the old Third Division.
In 2019, it was reported HMRC were set to wipe as much as £50million from the club’s EBT tax bill.
‘ Only when we have reached the depths of despair can we reach out and see the light of hope ‘.
Well, he wasn’t kidding whoever said that, or something like it!😁. On a right downer is equally apt and a lot shorter. Unfortunately, for me, the ‘light of hope’ is more than next season away. It’s not just the shambles we’ve watched on the pitch, it’s the maelstrom off it which worries me more.
There are players out there at prices we can afford that could do the business for us, but, I worry that the means to acquire them are not even yet at the club.
The main man may well be an excellent appointment, but, the football starts before he does. There will be no volunteer resignations from the board or NEDs. Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. The bould Dermot has golf on his mind at this time of year more than any other. There are prestigious pro-ams to attend!
We start from a long way back….. ‘ But we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again’. KTF.
BTW, turns out one of my golfing partners, currently not playing, is a very good friend of the new CEO’s dad, also called Dominic. They are ‘’ On opposite sides on most things on committees and ‘ he’s an argumentative auld bugger at times’ but he’s a good bloke to have in your corner.
Let’s hope like father like son😁
Bloody golf course closed due to 3 days heavy rain! Might be right beside the sea (it’s actually nearer to it than Bogside and Barassie) but it’s not a links course. That’s my day buggered!
Gordon 64 9.04 : You’ve just brightened up my day! ‘With a hey, hey, hey and a ho, ho, ho!!
.
Bobby
Very well structured article and encapsulates most of our ills. One leetle point if I may: it is not “our title”, but “the title”. It does not belong to us by right, we have to earn it.
Well, now I have to get on with “my” home workout…🙄😉🤣🤣
HH
A more optimistic leader today Bobby, for sure it will be interesting, even though as the saying goes “You can’t please all of the people all of the time”
Your chosen leader words (We’ve done it before,and we’ll do it again!) are gonna have the song ” Erins green Valley” stuck in my head all day, thanks for that .
Twisty: As an aside Celtic News Now’s aggregator seems to have picked up today’s leader by Bobby and are using it as a feeder article, that’s the first time I’ve seen it pick up an SC leader that does not include an image or video.
ASWGL
That was the plan,mate! I remember singing that at Celtic Park,and it was one of the few hymns at primary that we got fired into wi some gusto.
Plus,who needs doom and gloom on a Monday? I’ve had to serve that up too often this season in my match reviews,so took the opportunity to
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=always+look+on+the+bright+side+of+life&view=detail&mid=7AB999FC0D06630F5D677AB999FC0D06630F5D67&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dalways%2blook%2bon%2bthe%2bbright%2bside%2bof%2blife%26cvid%3d36593bf9b35448919d20e69d7d6fd733%26aqs%3dedge.0.0l2j69i57j0l4.5906j0j1%26pglt%3d299%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dHCTS
Afternoon all.Said it before if Keane is the answer ,its the wrong and lazy question.As an aside ,and please let me get this offmy chest ,not football related,sitting at Aldi in Cumbernauld earlier 2 cars ,big cars pull in at bays for people with kids ,get out no kids and go shopping.Youngish woman both .Both too lazy to park 20 yards further on .Now this aint important and small things dont usually annoy me but it got me wondering that a simple request like this is just disregarded.Are we so wrapped up in our own importance we cant think of others.The car park was far from full.Maybe I am just getting old but my normal council house working class up bringing makes things like this get on my wick.As I said not very important and naybe says more about me.Sorry for the rant.
Gordon 64.
Neil McCann fears £700k tax bill for EBTs as he battles ex-wife over £1million divorce
McCann told a court he fears a £700,000 tax bill for controversial EBTs — as he battles his ex-wife over their £1million divorce.
He admitted to law chiefs he is deeply worried by the prospect of being held liable for the huge sum relating to payments made to him during his time at Rangers.
” I wasn’t aware of this when I signed the contract and it causes me huge concerns. BUT I THOUGHT THE SIDE LETTER MEANT RANGERS WOULD PICK UP ANY LIABILITY SHOULD SCHEME BE UNLAWFULLY USED”
The Light Blues began making payments through the Employee Benefits Trust in 2001 ISSUING SIDE LETTERS TO COVER ANY LIABILITIES ARISING AND SO ATTRACT PLAYERS THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD.
The tax-free loans did not have to paid back by recipients BUT IF THE TAX ON THEM DID RANGERS UNDERTOOK TO MEET THE COST.
But in 2010 the scheme was outlawed and the club investigated by HMRC over £47million of handouts to players.
The following year, Sir David Murray, BEFORE PLAYERS COULD CALL IN THEIR INDEMNITY, sold the club to Craig Whyte for £1 and in February 2012 it plunged into administration.
The bitter legal wrangle between Gers and HMRC became known as the Big Tax Case, which later saw the club liquidated AND PLAYERS LEFT HIGH AND DRY TO PAY THE TAX THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID IN FIRST PLACE — before a “ NEW CLUB/COMPANY i.e RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB LTD/RANGERS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL CLUB PLC
was formed and allowed into the old Third Division.
In 2019, it was reported HMRC were set to wipe as much as £50million from the club’s EBT tax bill BUT ARE NOW PURSUING PLAYERS FOR THE UNPAID TAX, BECAUSE THE CLUB WHO GAVE THEM INDEMNITY ARE DEID.
(Last bit courtesy Leigh Griffiths but you get my drift. The original is how the reading public are misinformed.
Reality is just an eraser of lies.
On the manager etc, ” infinite patience produces immediate results ” and the fears will be shown to be unfounded IF Celtic march in tune with reality and not the illusion they helped create out of fear.
Interesting article. I lived through a lot of the one season fightbacks mentioned with the Martin O’Neill one the most vivid in my mind. The one thing I do take into account is The longer the board takes to appoint a DOF and a manager simple means that there making every effort to get it right. We do have reserve players,underperformed talent from last time,money from sales to come as well as a league with a lot of cheap buys that are more than capable of making a team that can put the fear of God into the Rangers. Its not even close to being over.
Hello pop pickers. It’s another day at number one for Eddie Howe and he’s now even shorter at 4/9.
As I said, yesterday, the market has settled in the past few days, in that if you leave J.K. out because of the 10 game rule, Its only been, Eddie, Roy and Enzo who there has been any money for.
Eddie Howe
4/9
John Kennedy
3/1
Roy Keane
8/1
Enzo Maresca
12/1
Frank Lampard
20/1
Chris Wilder
25/1
Jindřich Trpišovský
33/1
Rafael Benitez
33/1
Steve Clarke
33/1
Paul Lambert
40/1
Dan Petrescu
50/1
David Moyes
50/1
Gordon Strachan
50/1
Henrik Larsson
50/1
Jack Ross
50/1
Jesse Marsch
50/1
John Terry
50/1
Marco Silva
50/1
Mark Hughes
50/1
Michael O’Neill
50/1
Patrick Vieira
50/1
Ralf Rangnick
50/1
Roberto Martinez
50/1
Slaven Bilic
50/1
Thierry Henry
50/1
Balornockbhoy
Couldn’t agree with you more.
WTF has happened to good manners and common courtesy?
Hail Hail.
ItsnicetobeniceCSC
B.B./ Magua.
Sadly a lot don’t give a damn, now.
VictorMeldrewrus
Morning folks, hope this finds all well.
Optimism on a Monday? Will never work. Bad news to match the hangovers and/or beginning of work week. Seriously though, be interested to find out if bad or good news articles elicit more response in general? If there’s less comments than last Mondays rant we have a winner?
Welcome Tim Shady, great name.
Balornock Bhoy, seen the opposite here not long ago. Late at night with the car park empty we pull up in front of the ATM machines.
Another car pulls up, realized he is in the disabled spot and moved car before getting cash.
This despite it being dark, quiet, with zero other cars around that may possibly need that spot for the next 60 seconds.
We laughed about it, a little too politically correct like the woman Twists mentioned was jogging by herself in the country with a mask on.
Hail Hail
JnP,
Ten days of sun and good temperatures has the local birdies expoding into song and life.
Really enjoying the melody, blue jays, mocking birds, woodpeckers noises are dominant.
Watched an Osprey fish for a wee while on Saturday afternoon and all.
Spring in the air and the step!
Hail Hail
Mahe I noticed yesterday the birds in my area did not observe the clocks going forward 1 hour. They were up and flying about at their usual time!
Mahe. 4.26.
Superb, just reading that, brings a huge smile to my face.
Ospreys are majestic birds, although, as you all know, I think all birds are brilliant, yes, even gulls.
My all time favourite is the Goshawk, what a bird.
I’ve told this story before, but for the new guys.
I was up in the Cairngorms in a place called Lost and I finally done it, managed to see a Goshawk, I was delighted.
I text my daughters and told them, they replied, really pleased for you, Dad.
I text my son and he replied, you’re a boring bastard, Dad. 😂😂
BALORNOCKBHOY
Bloody pisses me off when people take liberties.
Of course the article is correct, but did each of those managers not have the bones of a good side waiting? They did.
That’s not the case now.
Need,,
Keeper x 2
Left back
Two right backs
Three central defenders cause Jules is crocked a lot
Left winger
Right winger
At least one midfielder
Four strikers (Griff big-time blew it, Klimala plays on shoulder doesn’t suit against deep sitting teams, Eddy gone and Ajeti is Ajeti, lazy bassa who thinks we are beneath him)
We need about a dozen players, yes we might loan some, but we won’t afford ten quality first team ready players. That means it’s dip into who is left hanging around,, really try and use the squad time, especially these talented kids we hear about,, Connell, O’Connor, Oko Flex, etc.
Aye a good gaffer could pull it off, but he will need quality over quantity I believe, and good coaching to get the best from the remainers, esp Mikey, James and maybe even Ralston.
The longer we leave it the more work we need but I fully understand a new manager not wanting to have his name attached to this season in any way shape or form especially as chances are they lose a derby game.
Hail Hail
Jim 4.28.
It’s a manic time for most birds, just now.
They are either building nests, on eggs or have chicks.
Everything I’m puting out, is being eating really quickly.
I’m puting seed and grapes out twice a day, just now, rather than just in the morning.
Hopefully water melon will be back in the shops soon, that works out a lot cheaper for me and the birds that eat fruit, love it.
I’ll keep an eye out for a Goshawk. Those chest markings are distinctive.
MAHE
You should have saved that response and fleshed it out for an article.
Mind you,it’s a brave man to say how we go forward. Anything is better,aye,but how do we achieve it?
JNP, I never thought of that, I usually just put some bread out in the mornings.
Early 90s, my girlfriend’s Dad was rather keen on birdwatching. He was a really lovely bloke,took a bit to get used to me. He sometimes set a wicket for “the chaps” to have a little fun. He stopped that after I bowled his son out three times in an over-house rules-and his brother in law twice. Tennis balls,btw. So a bit of birdwatching,as he got his bins out.
I asked if I could borrow them for the next meeting at Sandown,but he told me he needed them to see how far his drives had gone at the golf!
And then I went-fuxake,is that a kite?!!!
I know nothing about birds,but I’d read about their reintroduction,and bloody hell they are huge with obvious markings. I must check to see if I’m still in his will,he definitely promised me that day that I was!
JnP, do they eat the watermelon seeds?
Jim, howdy partner. Your clocks were late going back, ours shifted weeks ago.
No too many Easter Eggs now 😉
Mahe.
They aren’t overly fussed with water melon seeds.
I chop and dice the water melon for them.
Yir man, ASWGL, called it the other day, sunflower heart seeds, they go down a treat.
I know you were addressing Jim, but our clocks went forward, not back.
So the container ship is free. Bobby sounds like there’s a driving job going soon.
BMCUW.
Red Kites are great birds,too.
Ardgaty Farm nr Doune was one of the reintroduction sites, it’s not too far from me.
I go a few times a year, they feed the kites, once a day, so you get fabulous views and pictures.
Thankfully, they are reopening soon, so will get back after 26th April.
They deserve enormous credit, it’s a working farm,, but they have done all sorts for wildlife and they have build hides, where you see Red Squirrels and all sorts of birds etc.
Tim Shady.
Apologies, welcome and enjoy.
Will the real Tim Shady, please stand up.😁
Thanks for the reply’s to my earlier post .Glad it’s not just me.If you ornithologist keep this up Frank Macca will get the wrong idea and crash this site!!
Can’t think about birdseed without picturing the Peter Sellers film ‘The Party’. Any of yous that have not saw this film should do so. Good old fashioned fun, with Peter Sellers at his best.
So the wee birdies are still on GMT. How long does this last for?
MAHE
Fuxake,I need a CPC to prove I can do what I’ve been doing for forty years! Having said that,I couldn’t have made a bigger mess than the captain did.
I was offered a job based in The Gulf about 89,as a shipping agent for Sealand Services. My one regret in life that I somehow fucked that one up. 45 grand a year tax free,six return flights a year and fully expensed accommodation,vehicle,etc.
Still,sliding doors. Other things happened because of that. And I’m a happy bunny about those other things.
JNP The housemartins and Ospreys have arrived at our loch (Antermony) they’re early this year but then again a lot of birds are. Even my bees are early this year, they have a hive under a wooden floor under my garage, for the last 7 or 8 years. Actually I’ve meant to say to you for a while a fly fishing forum that i frequent has a bird watching section where they discuss and picture birds, it might interest you.
https://www.flyfishing.co.uk/forums/bird-watching.306/
Welcome Tim Shady
ASWGL.
Thanks for that, appreciated.
First Wheatear of the year recorded in Ayrshire last Wed, by a man many of us know, Park Rd.
If G, is lurking, he will give me a hard time, as he likes to stay low-key, but well done him.
His knowledge of birds is far superior to mine, but he’s very modest.
Anyway back to football.
Shay Logan going to Hearts, to avoid Broonie, wee shite bag.
Rumours that Leigh will end up at Aberdeen.
Premier Sports reject request to Broadcast Celtic v Falkirk cup tie via Pass to Paradise……..I smell $#!te…..watch the Club ‘step in’ and sort it,to give us that ‘added value ‘.
Evening All
Bada
I subscribe to both Sky and BT. Premier Sports will be getting ” not one thin dime” from me.
I’d love to see Celtic fans doing a blanket ban on them but sadly it won’t happen.
So still no news of the 5 Sevcovid idiots. The hearing was on Thursday, they said the decision would be announced today, when any other time it is announced on the same day.
Still making up rules as they go along, that just about sums up the shit show that masquerades as a governing body.
The most Icelandic video you will see today 🇮🇸
https://t.co/YBAaDoJ3il
Tim Shady
Welcome to the blog. It’s always nice to see new posters on here.
Hail Hail
Sergio Aguero leaving Man City, I wonder if we could, using our supposed contacts, persuade him to experience a real support for a couple of seasons 😁
HH
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Great story about the Goshawk and your son!
I’ve never seen one.
But if I do I won’t tell my daughter!
PB falconer Helen MacDonald, was in a program a while back with her training a Goshawk. might be watchable on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05jhncv
The hun Covid 5 still free,Bolingoli was practically deported ffs…
Buggered if I’m doing optimism again!
Bobby,
And what kind optimism are you buggered with if you don’t mind me asking?
Just watched the jack Charlton documentary on bbc 2, great watch, lots of laughs and very sad at the same time.
What a great man, fantastic watch