Our writer Alastair Moncrieff poses an interesting question – Are Celtic still a Big Club? Read on for his conclusions.
As Celtic supporters we’ve lived through some interesting times, we have witnessed unprecedented triumphs, heart-breaking failure, and periods of mind numbing monotony. Through it all though there has been one constant, something wholly irrelevant to what occurs on the green grass of ‘paradise’, Celtic have always been a ‘massive’ club.
On the face of it the question on which I’m basing this article is ridiculous, of course Celtic are still a big club, look at the size of the stadium, look at the global reach of the ‘brand’. Attendances may be dwindling (for various reasons) but 99% of clubs would kill for a matchday going support the size of ours.
The thing is my friends; football has changed, possibly beyond all recognition and probably irrevocably. The parameters upon which the size of a club is judged have shifted. And stuck in the financial black hole that is the SPL we just don’t measure up any more.
There’s a good chance that by now you’ve stopped reading and are directing a volley of abuse my way via the comments or twitter (bring it on!) but if anyone’s still here I’ll try and illustrate my point a little.
It, of course, all comes down to money, and more specifically ‘moneyball’.
For those not familiar with the concept it’s basically the ‘buy ‘em cheap’ (and young) and ‘sell ‘em high’ policy that we’ve implemented (successfully) in recent years.
Now I have no problem with ‘moneyball’ (except the stupid American name) and it is without doubt the only viable path for us to take. It has allowed us to build a talented and vibrant side, capable of producing moments of genuine quality. That the search for unearthed talent has by necessity been extended far and wide, has meant that we have had the pleasure of watching players who previously would have remained well off our radar. If we weren’t actively looking for players we could eventually move on for a tidy profit, then guys like Wanyama, Kayal, Izaguirre and so on would never have pulled on the hoops, the risk of them not adapting to Scottish ‘fitba’ would have been too great to justify the outlay. Instead we’d have ended up with less talented, older and more expensive recruits, probably sourced from the lower reaches of the English Premier League.
So like I said it’s the way to go, it makes sense on the balance sheet and on the football pitch. But here’s what’s concerning me, here’s what forced me to ask the question at the start of this piece. Our transfer policy places us squarely in the realm of ‘selling club,’ and if we are a selling club, then surely that precludes us from describing ourselves as a ’big club’.
I can tell you’re not convinced, so in an effort to persuade you, I present to you the case of Gary Hooper. In my personal opinion Hooper is one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen at Celtic Park, his movement, his touch and his composure mean that, for me anyway, he could play at almost any level (incidentally I don’t think he will because he’s a fat bastard and his attitude is, at best, questionable). Now even those of you who don’t think Hooper’s ‘all that’ would surely agree that he is one of the jewels in our crown. Hooper is the epitome of ‘moneyball’, he was brought to the club (relatively) young and cheap, the intention was always to nurture his undoubted talent and move him on. The player himself would have been perfectly aware of this; the move to Glasgow was always intended as a stepping stone. The issue here is where his next step will take him.
If the recent transfer chatter is to be believed (and that’s a big if I admit) then our top striker will not be leaving us for one of football’s giants (I really don’t buy the Juve rumour), he won’t be leaving us for regular jaunts into Europe and to challenge for trophies, no one of our best players will be heading out the door with only the prospect of, at best, English Premier League mid-table mediocrity ahead of him.
What this essentially means, is that due to the stark difference in the financial landscape either side of Hadrian’s Wall, going from Celtic to a team like Norwich or Southampton is now seen as a ‘step up’.
If that is the case, and I strongly believe it is, can we really consider ourselves a ‘big club’? I would argue no.
There is of course a caveat to all this, if Celtic ever gain access to the wealth of the EPL then we would soon dwarf just about every other club on the planet. Let’s be honest though, no matter how hard Peter Lawell rubs his magic lamp, there’s very little chance of a genie popping up and granting us that particular wish.
If you feel like arguing/abusing/praising leave a comment or get me on twitter https://twitter.com/allymonc I will always get back to you (eventually)
I presume you to be under 25 years old due to some of your comments. Since Celtic were formed teams in England have been able to offer players more money. And I am not talking about the ‘Big Clubs’. This is nothing new. Money means everything and the guys we are recruiting are not ‘jersey players’. There are none of these left. Practically every club is a selling club. Ronaldo left Man. Utd. As you yourself point out, your article is pointless. Players will leave Celtic not becaise they are going to play for bigger clubs but because they will play in a bigger league. There is nothing we can do about this.
I’m over 25 actually and if my article is pointless then why are you commenting on it?
to further his career at swansea, give us a feckin break, whats he gonna do at swansea, he moved for money pure and simple
there were other clubs, better clubs touting him but he chose the bigger pay packet, simple!
no matter who the player is, they only move for the bigger bucks, the pound is king and footbller’s all over will bow to it.
if swansea had offered Ki 20,000 and fulham offered him 60,000 per week you bet your ass he would be playing in london, nothing to do with swansea furthering his career
Sorry mate but I’m bored of going round in circles with you, bottom line is Celtic are now in the main a selling club, there’s nothing wrong with that but it does raise the question ‘are we a big club?’
I tried to answer that question that’s all, I’m sorry it’s offended you so much.
Excellent stuff. Love a good debate. By the way bhoys. God bless the glorious Glasgow Celtic.
Absolutely spot on mate!
Cheers ally. Keep em coming. And as for playing FIFA. I’ll gie ye a game anytime on ultimate. Lol.
Interesting article Ally, which I enjoyed reading (just as I enjoyed reading the – often frenzied – debate).
While I don’t agree with the notion that Celtic are not a big club (double negative – argh!) I do see the point you are making.
When you come down to it, the majority of footballers – bar those who purely want to play for their childhood club – are guys who see what they do as “their job” and, just like everyone else, I’d wager that they want to do as well as possible in their chosen career. Unlike the rest of us mere mortals who will have to toil and sweat till we’re well into our late 60’s, the career of a footballer is mayfly-esque in its life span. Therefore, they need to do be as successful as possible as quickly as possible.
While you or I would probably equate success with a promotion or a pay rise, the footballing equivalent is winning prestigious trophies, playing against better opposition and, ultimately, making the sort of weekly wage that leaves the rest of our eyes watering.
So what does this mean for Celtic? Sadly, we have two factors working against us:
1) The reputation and profile of the SPL, and the fact that our league administrators couldn’t promote their own product if their lives depended on it (is the Austrian league REALLY worth more money per annum than the Scottish one?). To a “rough diamond” player, the SPL is a great place to carve a reputation for yourself, but it’s not somewhere you’d settle down in.
2) We live right next door to a league with the single most aggressive marketing machine in the football which, despite some really substandard teams knocking about in its ranks, has managed to promote itself as “the best league in the world”, and which feeds its worst team the equivalent of Bulgaria’s GDP every season! This means that any footballer who is simply looking to “move up” will always be tempted by the bright lights of the English Premiership (especially when you factor in agents who are interested in fat fees whsipering in their ears…).
It’s a sad fact, but there are very few players out there who are willing to simply “play for the jersey” these days (despite the ones that you see kissing their badge every week).
So to summarise, Celtic are a big club (our fanbase, history, facilities and support are more than equal to all the big boys out there!) that unfortunately plays in a league with a poor profile. The very fact that we are a big club in the traditional sense means that we’re an ideal shop window for the journeyman player who wants to showcase himself as a means to moving on to the bigger bucks.
The reassuring thing is that when the financial bubble bursts (and it will!) we’re going to be in a very good position!
Ally
Like Ah posited..in Ma Foist Submission tae yer
maist refreshin blog.. pal.
Controversy..is always Stimulatin..
It gets the Ire Flowin..
and ..
well..
That’s.. well..
Necessary
Fur..
Fur. Withoot the IRE..
we wid hiv..
Nae… IRELAND!
Right??
Damn Right!
jac
Jac your an interesting but scary bhoy. God bless
Enjoyed the article, good work. In response I would say looking back have Celtic ever been able to truley call themselves a big club? Whilst our rich European history does make us stand out, most football fans around the world would not identify Steau Bucharest as a big club, and their European record is comparable to ours. Celtic have always sold their talents, mainly south of the boarder. I’m sure if you asked many aspiring footballers they would dream of one day playing for Celtic. However how many would dream of playing only for Celtic, not instead moving on to a Man Utd or Barca, something that the biggest of clubs won’t suffer from. The problem Celtic face now from the standard of teams that players would rather trade-up to. In the past players like Dalglish and McClair have moved south, to Liverpool and United respectively. Now however it appears players see moving to sides like Norwich and Wigan as a step-up. This doesn’t mean Celtic aren’t a big club and it certainly doesn’t mean Norwich are bigger than us. Whilst a large part of the problem is the SPL and its lack of financial clout, as discussed above, another issue the way leagues are perceived by fans, players and the media. Back in the days of the old European cup, if side drew Red Star or Rapid Vienna, I would imagine fans would know they would be in for a tough game. Now however you can guarantee the reaction would be, ‘they’re only from Serbia, that’ll be easy’. It now appears the reputation of the league a club plays in, is more important than that of the particular club, particularly for players not at the top level.
Pyewacket
By the way.. F.Y.I.
Ma Buddy.. jist told me..
That he has Coined a Brand New Name fur..
Sevco..
The New Name is a very Appropriate Appelation..
it’s
“The Humpty Dumptys”
Yep.. jis like the Poem says..
“All the Queen’s Lackeys and Awe o’ the
Wiles o’ the M S and N..
Couldnae pit..
Sevco..
Together..
Again!”
The Humpty Dumptys~
Perfect Moniker..
jac