The Happy Clappers call the Celtic bloggers conspiracy theorists…but when the same thing keeps happening at our club, its not a conspiracy, that’s called reality
Eric Knott 
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
I’ve been getting it tight this week from the Happy Clappers, as have my Celtic blogging colleagues from the Trinity Tims, Joe and James.
But the latest comments I’ve been getting have been telling me that I’m looking at things from a left wing point of view.
This is not a political column.
Its a football blog.
So I fail to understand how my views could be classed as leftist.
That kind of assertion is utterly brainless, and has no place on a football blog.
On top of being told I have a left wing point of view, I’m told that I’m a conspiracy theorist.
Well, I’m sorry, I don’t deal in conspiracies, I deal in reality.
I base my articles, and my point of view, on what I see unfolding before my very eyes.
I base my views on reality, its really that simple.
So, when I wrote my article last night on Gordon Strachan mouthing off about Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic future, my concerns were legitimate.
Not conspiratorial.
Gordon Strachan is an ex-Celtic manager.
Apparently, he is still on the payroll at the club in some sort of advisory capacity to Dermot Desmond.
Both of his sons are employed by the club, Gavin is a coach, Craig is a scout.
So when Gordon Strachan is quoted by a national newspaper saying that he ‘suspects’ Brendan Rodgers will leave at the end of his three year contract, me voicing my concern on that is not conspiratorial.
Nor is it a left wing point of view.
It is a legitimate concern.
Joe, James and I have been Celtic bloggers, and supporters, for a long time now.
Between us, we have over 120+ years of support for the club.
I’m relatively new to the blogging game, with just over 4 years experience here.
But Joe and James have 20+ years combined between them at this game.
At the risk of repeating myself, we do not deal in conspiracies.
We deal in reality.
We use our vast experience when it comes to supporting Celtic, and we apply that to our opinions in our blogs.
All three of us study very closely the patterns of our club, and we form our opinions based on these patterns.
We don’t just float complete and utter bollocks stories, or conspiracy theories for that matter.
I stand over everything I write, and more often than not, I am vindicated in what I say.
But believe me when I say this, I do not want to be vindicated on this.
I fear that I may be, but I do not want to be.
I really want Brendan Rodgers to stay on at Celtic, because I firmly believe that he is our path forward in Europe.
The manager believes that too.
I’m just not sure the people in our boardroom believe it.
The reason I am concerned, and right to be concerned, about what Gordon Strachan said about Brendan Rodgers, is because of the connections he has with Celtic.
You don’t say things like he did yesterday unless you have some insight into the situation.
However minimalistic it might be.
Whether that stems from his son’s opinion as a result of working closely with Brendan Rodgers, who knows?
But Strachan Snr. didn’t just pluck his opinion out of thin air.
One person who could definitely not be labelled a Happy Clapper, Chris Sutton, has also been very vocal about what’s going on at the club at the moment.
Especially on the transfer front.
Sutton made the point in his Saturday column in the Record that the loss of Jota to injury has been a huge blow, and it has.
But he also alluded to the sales of Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Nicolas Kuhn.
The club has made over £50 million from the sales of these three players.
Where has it been re-invested in the squad?
We are still at a net spend of £2.7 million in this current window.
Chris Sutton believes the fans should be repaid for their loyalty when it comes to season tickets and merchandise purchases, in the form of decent signings.
The opening game of the season against St. Mirren is just over a fortnight away.
Our Champions League qualifier is now just over a month away.
Once again, no conspiracies here, just facts.
Chris Sutton can see that just as clearly as we can.
But if we voice our concerns on these subjects, we’re called left-wing conspiracy theorists.
How ridiculous is that?
How utterly stupid is that?
Look, as we’ve said enough times on the podcast that if the Happy Clappers are happy with their lot, then that’s their prerogative.
I certainly don’t hold it against them.
My life would be a hell of a lot easier if I was a Happy Clapper.
I’d spend a hell of a lot less time letting the things that bother me about our club, bother me.
But I care about Celtic, deeply.
I want the best for the club, and I know our club can be so much better than it is.
We saw glimpses of what it could be last season in the Champions League.
At the time of writing, we are 4-0 up to Newcastle United.
A great result, but once again, sets you to thinking that the board will see that as no necessity for more recruitment when we can play this well with what we have.
Whatever the situation, I’ll continue to view things the way I do.
The Happy Clappers can view it the way they want to.
But my opinions, and my point of view, do not make me a left-wing conspiracy theorist.
I can promise you one thing, though.
A lot of what I say and predict will come to pass this season.
Just wait and see.
Its called reality.
The Celtic Board isn’t trying to help the manager and the team and it doesn’t like the fans.
The members are a bunch of incompetent guisers who shouldn’t be near the place, any success is in spite of them not because of them.
Slugger ffs are u on the coke, Gordon strachan hasn’t a clue what Brendan rodgers is thinking or what he’s going to do , it’s bullshit to say he does , utter rubbish.
You have a business and there are certain things you need to ensure, all of the time. A long term plan, safety, opportunity and above all keeping everyone happy while you ensure the lights stay on. In a way you really cannot win, but you need to try. In short since the years leading up to Fergus Celtic have almost excelled. Alternatively, you could spend millions above what you realistically can and there is chance it will unravel, think of our beloved neighbours who still do not really grasp all be it their new owners might see it a bit differently. So sticking with a relatively successful plan and taking a chance on Managers, developing players and looking to improve the fabric while keeping the support informed (as much as possible) seems like good business sense!!
Strachan and his family should retire. Gracefully,thay know hee haw
Slugger your on the same level as the writer and his pals and that is gutter level. These are guys that continually write crap and Celtic and nothing is factual and they make money ripping the fans off with the adverts on their blogs. The Celtic board deliver the best run club in the country, the best manager and the best team and if you dont believe this have a look at the history books, the trophy room and the accounts if you have the ability to understand accounts and not just the rumoured figures.
Well said Eric, For Phelim Grehan to say Strachan knows nothing is idiotic, he’s got the ear of the club and Dermott Desmond and I agree with everything you’ve said in this piece. When I saw the guy who called you a leftist yesterday I thought how can you have a leftist view on football? It just doesn’t make sense. Those of us who moan about the board do so because we know that we can be so much more than we currently are, this board can’t defend our standing in European football as it’s basically nonexistent since 1980 barring Seville and a few last 32 and last 16 appearances. We also know that domestic success is our bread and butter but we’re sick of being cannon fodder in the CL and EL, teams with lesser budgets than us consistently outdo us qualification wise and that’s not right and all because our board don’t give a f**k about having a go in Europe. We can see a better and brighter future for our club if the board tried a bit harder and not be so risk averse, if they had the decency and respect to tell us a concrete plan we’d maybe understand why they can’t or don’t want to but they couldn’t care what we the real shareholders think, they’re the current custodians but the supporters are always going to be there long after they’re gone m. They can’t even grasp that and it frustrates us all and that’s why we’re so vociferous about their over prudent and risk averse way of running our wonderful club.
Eric,
Straight back at you.
Fans opinions and points of view don’t make us happy clappers.
We all love our club and want the best for it.
You think we won’t back Brendan and that he will leave at the end of the season.
The two points are linked of course and by the end of the window we will see.
I will point out though that you said we wouldn’t sign players last year and we spent 30 million.
Are you setting yourself up for another failed guess.
Finally Strachan knows nothing about BRs thoughts. I believe he was reflecting on his own period in charge where if I remember correctly he felt three years was sufficient.
And you know what Stevie? If I’m setting myself up for a fall, I’ll be the happiest clapper out there. If the board spends £30 million plus on signings, you won’t hear me complaining. If they sign Brendan up for another 2 or 3 years, you won’t hear me complaining. But these are all ifs.
Labelling, which is a form of judgement does not help the actual issues being explored.
Folk just have different opinions on how they see things which is their reality.
That does not mean they are either Happy Clappers or Conspiracy Theorist just folk with a different perspective. Offering reasons for how we see things does not mean being happy about what they perceive more they see reasons for why things are as they seem to be. Nor does offering an opinion based on past experience that brings back negative memories make those offering that opinion conspiracy theorist.
The problem with labelling is it prevents the message being addressed because it is labelled as either Happy Clappers or Conspiracy theorists and that prevents the views that differ being considered with due respect for the person honestly making them.
If there is to be respectful consideration for what any writes then labelling has to be avoided. It serves no purpose but is divisive.
The problem with some Celtic fans is they have a default setting .
Whatever the Board does is wrong ? They are holding club back by not renovating South Stand . Two yrs ago the cry was not paying more than £5 players . Last season under BR instructions we spent £6m, £9m & £10m but were any of the players worth the price we paid . We could pay £20m for a striker very little better than Kenny , if we were eager enough to sign & selling club hold out
@Torky58,
Well presented view.
We can be and do so much better. Nobody’s asking the Board to blow the cash reserves never mind going into debt like the crazies on the Sou’side.
Hoarding almost £100 mill in Cash reserves seems ludicrous and self defeating when there are so many glaring gaps and deficiencies in the First Team squad.
Pre Season run abouts should not be the yardstick for measuring the Squad. We need to plan for the crap winter weather and even more plastic pitches this year. If the mob across the river are even slight better organised they will present a firmer challenge to us. The advances Aberdeen and Hibs made last season will guarantee a more competitive League and challenge to us. We will need an almost ‘Invincible’ Season. to maintain our Domestic Supremacy.
someone. or maybe a trinity said.
the new japanese player would not wear a celtic jersey.
thats 3 times now the fella has.
and looks to fit it well.
aberdeen. hibs. hearts .
a threat to who ? something called rangers . maybe .
have a real hard look at finances and then the analysis of the teams
they will go backwards. those other teams might and it does heavy lifting. might improve some.
i doubt it
aberdeen will revert to league form. pish. undeserved cup. anti football.
hibs. a conundrum. get into Europe. spoils the league.
hearts. maybe get to the league cup final. but they need to find a team that can beat something called rangers for the first time in near 40 years
There are only two people know what Brendan is going to do and that is him and double D.
I’m with you 100% Eric, our team could and should be a whole lot stronger, I cannot recall any other football club that operates the way we do. Yes, it gives us security in one sense but on the other hand, a football club should be the best it can be without overspending and we certainly don’t do that
The ‘Football Department’ as the PLC freeloaders refer to our club, IS Celtic. Without the club, those feckers would not have a vehicle to enrich themselves. If only we had a group of competent Tims in charge, we may yet achieve something in the European Cup.
Hail Hail.
Looks like the shiny happy people are having a campaign to defend Liewwell. Yes, Liewwel. The man who denied knowing about the 5 way away agreement to and AGM. I was there and heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes when he asked the Resolution 12 guys to provide him with details of their resolution. The man who attacked a fan in an Italian airport, the man who when CEO opposed every resolution for fan involvement from the Celtic Trust and finally the board back /not oppose the resolution for fan involvement, bastardising it into the sycophantic self interest forum we have to day. Where I believe the trust do not attend. I’ll leave it at that as I don’t have any proof of shenanigans in the transfer market or anything else.