The problem with a bluff is if someone calls it. This has been well known by everyone who’s ever tried to bluff and failed. But it’s also been known by everyone who’s ever used bluffing as part of basic strategy. And bluffing has been a part of basic strategy since time immemorial. It’s a high-risk move though.
The other day I did a piece on Glasgow City Council’s incomprehensible decision to allow an Orange parade to go through Trongate on the day Celtic are presented with the league trophy at our ground.
I marvelled that no one had looked at a calendar and spotted the obvious problem with that date. I was stunned that Police Scotland allowed it. Although, maybe I was a little harsh on them in that regard—it seems more likely that this was just dropped in their laps and they were told to deal with it.
And I speculated that perhaps the people who did this were looking to create a point of confrontation. Perhaps they were aiming explicitly to create circumstances where trouble might be just one wrong word away. What I couldn’t understand was why anyone would do such a thing. Why anyone would do something that mind-bendingly crazy. And last night, it dawned on me—perhaps it’s an attempted bluff.
It dawned on me that maybe this was an effort to bounce our fans into not holding their title party at Trongate. And the problem, as I said above, is if you’re going to bluff, you’d better hope no one calls it.
Today, the Green Brigade did exactly that—by advertising Trongate as the location of the title party on that day. So if this was a bluff, it’s stupider than any two people playing chicken and getting into a head-on collision.
So what now for the council? What now for the plans for that day? The Green Brigade has gone ahead and announced the party. That genie’s out of the bottle—and there’s no putting it back in. The police can come along, try to get heavy-handed, and attempt to prevent the party from taking place.
That would be one way to handle it, but it would immediately raise questions. Questions about why other events aren’t policed the same way, and why a firmer hand hasn’t been used at other times, in other places.
Police Scotland is already under significant scrutiny because of their decision to stop Celtic fans marching to Celtic Park for a game against the Ibrox club not that long ago. Another example of two-tier policing would be an absolute PR disaster.
It would stink to high heaven, and our club would want answers. Our fans would want answers. And that would lead to political pressure and politicians wanting answers too, one would hope.
As I said the other day, trying to get the Orange Order to change their plans is a fool’s errand—they’re simply not going to do that.
So the likelihood is that large numbers of Celtic fans will be in the Trongate area, either on their way to the game, or unable to attend it and choosing to celebrate there before kick-off, and watching in one of the many Celtic bars, as the dregs of the Orange Order and their assorted hangers-on pass through the area.
I don’t know if the council really was gambling that Celtic fans might take their party somewhere else. I don’t know if they were gambling on the Orange Order cancelling their march. But whatever they were gambling on, the gamble failed today when the Green Brigade announced the celebration. And the Orange Order remains committed to holding its march at the time of its choosing.
Perhaps the council are relying on the fact that the Orange Order march will have dispersed by the time the Celtic game finishes and Trongate starts filling up with the 60,000 fans who were in the ground.
It’s possible they get lucky in that regard, and that every single Orangeman is out of the area by the time Celtic fans show up en masse. But as I’ve said already, there are going to be plenty of Celtic fans in that area when the march takes place. And there will be enough stragglers, hangers-on, and quite possibly troublesome elements from the march who want to cause bother, hanging around until the party begins for real.
Nobody wants trouble. Everyone hopes the afternoon goes off without a hitch. But someone at Glasgow City Council decided to roll the dice. And if there is widespread disorder, if there is serious trouble, then as I said in the previous piece, no one should be pointing the finger at our supporters.
Our fans have done this three years in a row. Our fans get on just fine with each other, by and large. If there is real trouble, it’ll be because of the added element. It’ll be because of all those Orangemen being thrown into close proximity with our fans.
There’s no rolling it back now.
The Green Brigade has put out its statement. They’ve announced the party. So, they’ve called the bluff of those who wondered if they would. Of course they were going to do it. They were always going to do it—just as the Orange Order are going to do their march, regardless of what anyone has to say about it, unless the police step in and try to stop one or both of these events.
I think we can all guess which one that would be… but the Green Brigade—and our fans—have called their bluff too.
This is very unlikely to end well, and those on the council who approved that march are the ones who’ll ultimately be to blame if goes off the rails.
This is a colossal balls up for sure but the one thing I don’t appreciate is like we all dance to the Green Brigades tune – who made them the spokesmen for all of us? Seems like you are doffing the hat a bit much for my liking- they do not speak for me or the vast majority of us
What are you on about you crackpot The Trongate isn’t just about the Green Brigade,but yes they are a focal point but never have the said they speak for anyone but they certainly do sing for us at games and their charitable endeavours are commendable.this is all on GCC and the rewards from OO marches that fill their coffers.Nothing to do with anyone affiliated to Celtic
Sean, goodghuy? 🙂
Well done Green Brigade. The Trongate and it’s surrounds are our traditional celebration area on such an occasion, so why should we even contemplate changing that scenario. Glasgow is Green and White and especially at our traditional haunts when there is yet another Title to be celebrated.
Fk them all, the long and the short and the tall.
Don’t forget, the tribute act followers will be out celebrating too after winning the prestigious “pitch of the year” award. An award so important that no one outside of the groundsmens union knew it existed. Now that we do, most top flight pitches are in good nick all year with exception of plastic pitches, Dens park and um, the one that was unplayable for a quarter of the season due to a crane being on it! Even giving them this meaningless award is unjustified. Oh and they’ve won “Barry’s first win at Ibrox” cup. Proof that his players now “get it” and he deserves the job. So expect plenty of knuckledraggers out with the orange clowns.
The Celtic support shouldn’t have a seconds thought about changin their plans. Not a chance. If they did, then can imagine how that would play right intae these neanderthal bigots hands. What a ‘victory’ that would be for them eh ! Hopefully it will somehow pass without serious incident, tho bottom line is, this has been organised deliberately by the OO imo and whoever it was who sanctioned it should be held accountable if there are.
The Trongate area has always had a magnetic pull on Celtic fans whenever we have something to celebrate, it has evolved historically as the ‘go to’ place to party over many years of Celtic success.
I have no idea where the huns traditionally gravitate to, they have never won on a consistent basis to establish a pattern. Losers, every last one of them.
I’d like to say I’m surprised but I’m not. The SFA, the authorities and Scottish football doesn’t want Celtic in this league for two reasons, one because we tear it a new one most seasons and the second is because of the Irish Catholic link.
There will be total carnage no doubt and all the media Swinney and the rest at trumpton will blame all of it on Celtic and the support you can guarantee it while totally absolving the poisonous racist bigotss at O/o and all there vermin neantardrolls only in scochland
James, I think we should change our plans. The 60,000 fans should all assembly in the Trongate area, not go to the game and completely stop their march. Now would that not be fun??
Make that 60,001 John M, I wasn’t going to the game but I don’t mind joining in the sideshow. 🙂
Getintaethum!
????
???? They were supposed to be crying with laughter faces.
Many years ago after I worked in Denmark, I voted for Independence hoping that Scotland could become more like the Nordic countries. Boy was I wrong.Will the people in this country,especially Glasgow and the West of Scotland, never grow up?.The mindset in this part of the world is childish and embarrassing.
On “Trophy Day” the Elites and Ruling Class will probably see exactly what they love to see.Working Class people fighting among themselves about religion and football.
Meanwhile the Health Service is being privatised before our very eyes.How sad.
I think the likely outcome here is a police statement warning Celtic fans not to congregate in Trongate.
Was that the expected outcome to show who were the most important in this standoff? That’s the question…
Not listening to that pish pot jerker for sure JimBhoy…
Cuntstubble Sutherland let the genie outta the bottle in 2021 with The Sevco Huns during coved…
And the fuckin ginie ain’t goin back in now for sure !