This weekend was notable for an excellent Celtic display and two more Leigh Griffiths goals, as well as an imminent signing which will answer some of the questions I posed last week.
Griffiths said after the game that those who want to talk about him as a future “Celtic legend” are jumping the gun.
He might be right.
But if he keeps on going as he is then there’s no reason at all why he can’t go on to wear that title with pride.
51 goals in Celtic colours so far.
He’s well on the way to that 100 total, and what lies beyond. He’s got the stuff to make it, and I never doubted it for a second.
It was a very decent Celtic display, anchored by a magnificent performance from Tom Rogic, who Leigh apart looks like a Player of the Year contender.
But I want to talk about something that happened elsewhere.
On Friday, at the press conference for Hibs match with Falkirk, one of Scottish football’s lesser known hacks asked a truly bizarre question, which has generated a raft of absolutely ridiculous headlines and, frankly, made our media look more barmy than usual.
The question was in relation to Anthony Stokes, and according to several media sources, and in particular The Daily Record, Stubbs “toiled to find a response.”
That had the sum total of nil to do with his taking the question seriously, and was more about how absolutely left-field ridiculous the question was.
Imagine if someone turned up at a press conference for NASA and asked a question relating to tomato growing in Herefordshire.
I think their media people would “toil to find a response” too, after first making sure the question wasn’t some kind of put-on.
There are times when I’m madly sure our entire media is some kind of put-on.
At other times I think they’re just outright useless.
And then there’s most of the time, when I think they’re idiotic beyond all rationale or reason and play so much to the “core audience” that they forget there actually are a bunch of Other People in the country who view them as completely unhinged.
The question was on Anthony Stokes, of course, who this site is delighted has chosen to go to Hibs where he’ll be involved in a genuine title battle and could make the difference in it.
Stubbs was asked if he was surprised Celtic allowed this when it could “cost us £10 million.”
I don’t know who the “journalist” who asked it was, but if the smell of cheap whiskey had caused everyone in a five seat radius to clear out I would not have been dreadfully surprised because the febrile mind that produced that question could only have been inspired by wine if it wasn’t just a moment of outright twattery.
Stubbs, who clearly knew what the question inferred, did “toil” to find an answer, but only in the same way he would have had it been on nuclear physics.
When he finally did, he used the words “Pass … pass …” before discussing the footballing merits of signing Anthony Stokes rather than any hypothetical, theoretical, metaphysical or even paranormal consequences which might accrue from it.
I have seen media spin of all shades and colours before, but this has to be one of the most blatant examples of twisting logic I’ve ever come across.
I don’t know whether the hack asked it in an angry, accusatory tone “Just what in the Hell do Celtic think they’re doing?”; or a baffled one; “What do they hope to gain from this?”; or even played straight; “Do Celtic not realise this could cost Sevco the title and that could cost them £10 million?”
I don’t even care if he was screaming “Why? Why? Why?” as he was dragged from the press room, prior to being sedated and sent somewhere with padded walls.
To use a Hibs press conference to question Celtic’s policy in such a way, to question our intentions, is crass, bitter and utterly cowardly.
This guy wouldn’t have dared ask the question at Parkhead; there it wouldn’t have drawn bafflement but frank contempt and said hack might well have found his press credentials revoked on the grounds that he’s not an impartial journalist trying to elicit information but a hack trying to stir the soup and create a story where none exists.
Could loaning out a player to Hibs backfire on Celtic?
Of course not!
The idea is patently absurd.
Could it really cost us £10 million?
Of course not.
Let’s deal, once and for all, with the elephant in the room, and especially on a day when we’re about to spend upwards of £1.5 million on an international defender whilst Sevco plays “hardball” with St Johnstone for a few hundred grand.
Without being in the same league as Celtic, Sevco will die.
There it is, in black and white, with no sugar coating.
It’s a pure and simple fact.
Now, I think they’re in grave danger whether we’re in the league or not, and in some ways their desire to “challenge” us actually makes the prospect of their demise even greater when the two clubs are actually playing in the same division, but that’s a digression at this point.
Because that’s avoidable.
All they have to do is be realistic in their goals and objectives and they’ll have a shot at leaving the fans a club to support at the end of it all.
But their entire business model is bound up in being “Rangers” and Rangers, for all their claims to be something special, needed Celtic and the zombie outfit playing at Ibrox now has bet everything on getting the SPL and constructing a rivalry on which to sell season tickets.
The simple fact is Celtic does not need a club called Rangers playing in its league.
The much vaunted “£10 million lost” that Lawwell has talked about …. It’s reflected in Celtic’s own decision to cut the price of season tickets and it is small beer compared to Champions League income that’s gone bye-bye in the last two seasons.
But more than that; it pales into insignificance next to how much Rangers stole in their various guises during the financial doping years, and Sevco shows every indication of being willing to play by the same ghastly rules – spending what they don’t have in the hope someone else picks up the tab and blackmailing Scottish football to play ball.
Exactly what incentive is there for us to give them a free ride to the top flight when we can help prevent that?
Even if you accept the fabled number – which I don’t – we’re constantly told of what Sevco will do when they are firing on all cylinders.
Celtic fans will be outraged if they’re allowed to catch us, and that will cost a hell of a lot more than a mere £10 million.
Without that £10 million – even if it were real – we would survive.
We’ve structured our business model according to our own needs, and we’re in no danger of losing our way.
Their club can’t say the same.
Without being able to resurrect the hated Old Firm rivalry, in some perverse form NewCo Rangers is finished.
Today Hibs drew 1-1 with Falkirk.
That gives Sevco a clear lead at the top of the Championship.
If Hibs overcome them, with or without Anthony Stokes, it will not be the fault of Celtic or any other club.
The blame will lie squarely at Ibrox, and it’s telling that their media lackies are doing what they can, even now, to divert attention from that simple fact.
Fucking yawn do you cunts ever shut up about the Rangers.if you put as much energy into supporting your own team they might fill a fucking stadium .i think I will struggle to get a season ticket at ibrox again nxt season if all you turn coat tic fans apply for one as you know it always has and always will be about the Rangers
Lol you have the perfect username.
A fat balding embarrasment who took you and the club for absolute mugs.
If the press actually asked the real questions and stated the obvious then perhaps it wouldn’t bore you so much when someone states what the MSM refuse to do. New Rangers need Celtic much more than Real Rangers ever did and the fact you come here to read about the truth at your new club speaks volumes. At Celtic we welcome the challenge of New Rangers. Old Rangers died trying to keep up with us and new Rangers will probably die if Hibs win the championship. A good test for your new team will be against a poor team in premier league. Kilmarnock might put the brakes on the drivel the papers write about the New club owned by dodgy dealers who actually helped kill your club. And you made me laugh when you said its all about the Rangers. The Ex club from Scotland that have friends in high places. So high they turn a blind eye on the dodgy aid you get from all the dodgy charlatans that take poor real Ranger fans fro mugs at every turn and get you to buy tickets for the tribute act. Would be better entertainment going to watch the old legend matches. Would be interesting to see if the Real but old Rangers players could out duff the new Rangers, Sevco or the tribute team if thats what you prefer. Real Rangers men at fake Rangers doesn’t make it better it just takes the mick out of your delusions. Now away book a season ticket at the High Court seems Sevco might have a few more people to convince of the sham that is Sevco. More Shameful than Scotland real Shame the boys who sing about fascist slasher Billy Fullerton. Hope your new team is better than the last one. They don’t exist anymore despite cheating in every way they could possibly muster with Talmudic spin.
Enjoyable article. Thanks.
Personally I felt the smart move for Stokesy would have been to head north to Inverness. That is what the club wanted as well but they allowed Anthony to make the call, a fact I think should be applauded.
I am encouraged by the signing of a quality centre back, a left footed one, if it is to be Sviatchenko. It has been Crystal clear that Ronnies + Celtic Euro issues were caused by a leaky defence.
I really like the look of Callum Paterson the Hertz right-back. He would be another quality + affordable purchase. I am reasonably with other areas of the squad, but perhaps as a pre-cursor t o Champs League Quals in only 6 months time, which will be vital for Ronnie and important for the club as a whole, a pacy winger may be a good idea.
Crisis – What crisis? HH
There is no Celtic fan, none, who could envisage how good LG has been this season. Again, none. I wouldn’t swap him for Aguero. As with Anthony, footballs not ‘all’ about ability, it’s about application, attitude and desire, not to forget, working hard ‘every’ day. LG is getting his just reward and I’m looking forward to seeing him get even better. Really happy for him. “It’s better than a new signing”. As of sevco, who cares, they’re only good for a laugh. HH
You can’t fill your stadium,your fans just had a poll to get rid of your manager,you flopped AGAIN in Europe and inspite of having a 4 year head start have failed to steam ahead of Rangers,on the contrary you have downsized with every passing season.
You have also failed to win a single treble during Rangers absence,a disgrace in itself,and you spend all your time talking about Rangers as a casual glance at any Celtic fan forum shows all to well. In a bizarre way Rangers going down the leagues has actually affected you more than Rangers. You seem to breathe eat and sleep Rangers Football Club. Which is utterly mind boggling considering you also claim Rangers don’t exist.
Which reminds me..i noticed UEFA have updated it’s official Rangers page again (UEFA as I’m sure you know don’t report lower league matches only cup matches) listing the current squad…on the so called “old” Rangers page. You do realise once Rangers are promoted back to the top league this season UEFA will be reporting on Rangers as normal,and you’ll then be unable to avoid the unpalatable fact that UEFA regard Rangers as the same club. What do you do then? You already tried the ASA and lost..where next? Judge Judy??
http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=50121/library/domesticinclude/idcup=5027/_squadlist.html
Lol you barmy bastard.
Would nae swap him for aguero stay aff the glue lol
The £10 million fantasy figure is just that ,a fantasy. Lawwell was asked once how much Celtic had lost without Rangers in the same league ,his response was £10 million but that covered a couple of seasons since Rangers died and then came back as a new club ,so it worked out at the time at about £3 million a season. The media then jumped on the £1o million figure and suddenly we were losing that every season.,
Griffiths is a very good striker, but you wouldn’t swap him for Aguero? I will have some of what you have been drinking. Ludicrous statement!
They are good for a laugh but I still wish they would hurry up and die
It would seem no matter what anyone says or does, this disgusting appology of a football club will be allowed to carry on regardless.Thats two court cases that have been scrubbed,the latest one where they owe a company £300,000 pounds was tossed aside because sevco said their accounts were in order,and they had their debt down to £500,000.The sheriff said that he believed them and he also believed thelr share holders had deep pockets, what f***ing chance has anyone got of getting anything from this GASL king lead toxic company.I just wonder if Mike Ashley is about to do a deal to withdraw his cases against both GASL king and the SFA/SPFL.What do you think JP. HH
The top strata in Scottish football management,or most people in sport don,t seem able to handle the barbed and skewed techniques…..as well as downright biased lines of questioning used by the smsm in this wonderful country of ours. I ask you is it beyond the wit and capability of people who are asked questions to ask why, sevco are obliquely and indiscreetly woven into the structure of any conversation on any topic ? One would think professional people would expect these lines of questions and to tell the hacks we are not here to discuss the subject you want to,but my player ,next question please ! Celtic are just as guilty of this failing,we (Celtic) in my opinion ought to have a press corps to deal with situations where we have been sidetracked in the past. A press corps of paid to look after their employers interests and keep any and all media under control at all interviews………or am I being paranoid ?
Why oh why have the SFA not been investigated by The European football authoritues their complete lack of any decency is disturbing the people at the top at sevco should b imprisioned but the people at the top of Scottish football should hang their heads in shame the world of football is watching sevco big brother is watching u remember
they like to go on about us not filling our stadium …. which we dont … fair enough. But the last i heard Ipox held around 51000. yet “only” 42000 turned up for their last League game. Thats just under 10000 empty seats!!! not the mythical full houses they go on about, and at half the price of our place . The facts are we have sold over 42000 season tickets and thats a fact. its not hard to find the figures online ,although i asked a friend who works at the ticket office. whether people choose to go to every game or pick and choose ( as it seems a few are doing) is neither here nor there,the point is they are still puting their hard earned into Celtic.