SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

Aye,I know. It’s ambrosia washed down with a fair whack of nectar anaw. But hubris is what the gods throw in our direction to make us feel superior. And instead of ignoring such entreaties,we bite.

Go on,been there,done it,bought the postcard. We all have-especially when we were half our age. (You’re excused,CRAIG76,you were still in short trousers half a lifetime ago)

But hubris? Bit of a bastert,that one. Who doesn’t love to lord it when they get the chance? Naw,me neither-guilty as charged!

However,this is not about Celtic today-though it could be. We know why Celtic were second best last season,and can see those proverbial green shoots of recovery even as we merely hope for the best. But try being a supporter of any of “the three biggest clubs in the world”

So who’s that,Mick,you might ask? Celtic are the biggest team in the world!

Nope,not so. This century,the top three teams on the planet are Real Madrid,Barcelona and Man Utd. Cos it’s all about money,innit? Hits on social media and sponsors.

At least with Barcelona,we could see the results on the pitch. The last fifteen years or so has given us some wonderful examples of how The Beautiful Game should be played,with a tight back line and interplay with such as Iniesta,Xavi,Busquets.

And Messi. Oh,Messi.

Yet now,Man Utd are seriously struggling with an incredibly talented squad. One which demands that Ronaldo play,despite the imbalance he causes. Or trying to figure out how to shoehorn eighteen “quality” players into eleven,while the right back and centre backs plus the “holding mid” are simply a nightmare.

Real,they are struggling to rebuild but seem as though they might get through it-despite the huge cost of the rebuild of Bernabeau which meant that they played all of their games last season at their training ground.

Can you imagine Celtic playing at Barrowfield or Lennoxtown?

Barcelona though,the team who lit up our lives so often,well…

Best team in the world,said the critics. Best team ever,said the pundits.

I won’t lie,I agree with the above. Absolutely magnificent outfit to watch when in full flow. Slightly too young to appreciate Brazil 1970,bloody disappointed with Brazil 1982,I saw a phenomenon the first time I saw Barca under the Guardiola system.

Didn’t stop us from beating them of course,and we came damn close to doing it one or two other times.

But then,hubris,aye.

How much do you pay these superstars to play for you when they are the main reason that everyone on the planet wants to watch them,and every corporation on the planet wants a piece of the action?

Turns out that Barca redefined the definition of infinity,assuming that infinite wages meant infinite success and infinite income. They seem to have overlooked the ageing process,increasing the salaries in line with length of service.

All the while,expecting everyone to worship at the feet of Lionel Messi,and to pay handsomely for it. And to be honest,I think they got the last bit right. Messi is the most magnificent ballplayer/goalscorer I have ever seen.

But bringing in Neymar-along with all his problems and associated tax irregularities-was the beginning of the end. The end was spending his transfer fee on pish,decent players but never worth-Coutinho-£140 million. And the rest.

Liverpool got the best centre half and the best keeper in the world for a guy who might as well have chucked it on the way out the door from the contract signing.

And I could go on,but that is why Barca,only so recently,are f….d. Shovelling money because of vanity projects from club presidents who clearly know eff all about football.

What a joy they were to watch though,and I take no pleasure from their demise. Well,apart from Neymar,and he effed off years ago. That’s the problem with thinking you’re,well,it. You ain’t.

There’s always someone round the corner. And mortgaging your history and your reputation rarely ends well.

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Above article by BMCUWP