The lifelines that are being handed to Celtic by Ibrox WILL eventually run out, the question is, will we be prepared for that eventuality?
Eric Knott 
(Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Someday, maybe soon, maybe a few seasons down the line, the Ibrox side will eventually get their shit together and stop handing Celtic the lifelines they keep handing to us.
There is an inevitability about that, whether we like it or not.
From 1993 to 2013, Manchester United dominated the English game under Alex Ferguson.
20 years of history making domination.
Before them, Liverpool dominated the English game, and just like United now, they went in the doldrums from 1990, until 2020.
Not a single title won in 30 years.
Manchester United are 12 years into their slump, with no signs of exiting it any time soon.
They are the epitome of a sleeping giant, and some day, who knows when, they will awaken again.
Just as Liverpool did.
You think the that next thing I’m going to say is that the Ibrox side are a sleeping giant?
Well no, I won’t say that, because a club that is only 12 years old cannot be a sleeping giant.
They have tried desperately to be what the club that went before them was, and maybe to a degree, that is why they’ve failed so miserably at it.
I will not say that the club that went before them was a giant either.
Because everything that club achieved was built on sand.
Hence the reason it is now dead.
Consigned to the history books forever as a lesson in the failings of egotism and hubris.
However, the current custodians of the new Ibrox entity seem to have ditched the hubris and the egotism.
They seem to be backing a manager who also displays none of those traits.
Egotism and hubris only remains in their fanbase, but for some reason, that isn’t phasing the new owners.
The pertinent question here is are they getting their shit together?
Well, that remains to be seen.
In their opening two league fixtures they’ve provided everybody with plenty of amusement.
Is that going to continue?
I doubt it.
Eventually things might start to click at Ibrox, it might take a while, but there’s a distinct possibility it could happen.
As Egotism and hubris are the ‘buzzwords’ of this article, it would be remiss of me not to point out where the real egotism and hubris resides in the Scottish game today.
It resides at Celtic Park.
Not within the fanbase, but within a small group of men who consider themselves geniuses when it comes to running a football club.
But they are made to look like geniuses as a result of the utter failings that continue around them.
In reality, the Celtic board suffers from a superiority complex.
The people comprising that group believe they are the very best the Scottish game has to offer.
But they have elevated themselves to that position because they’ve never really been challenged.
When they were, during the ill-fated Covid season, it all came apart at the seams.
Peter Lawwell dramatically fell on his sword, but as all of us who are smart enough to spot an egomaniac when see one knew, it was all an act.
Which I described in detail in one of my articles last week.
Our majority shareholder showed us what an egomaniac he was as well.
He decided to put his ego before the well-being of the football club, and retained Neil Lennon’s services until the 10IAR season was well and truly dead and buried.
Just because he would not bow to fan pressure.
Or so he said.
I honestly cannot figure out what he thought he was going to achieve by behaving the way he did that season.
Well, he did achieve one thing, he proved to the Celtic fans that he would adopt a scorched earth policy when it came to anybody challenging his almighty power within the club.
Which proved to me that he does not care about Celtic.
All he cares about is being top dog.
I own Celtic (which he does not), so I’ll do with it as I please.
Its an attitude that absolutely stinks, if you ask me.
But that attitude comes from the fact that we dominate the Scottish game, and because we do, Dermot Desmond believes he knows best.
And that flows directly down to the board who do his bidding.
Who, in turn, believe that they know best too.
But as I alluded to earlier, we dominate the Scottish game because there has never been a real challenge since 2011.
What I also alluded to was Liverpool and Manchester United’s domination of the English game.
And how after both eras, it came to a swift end.
Do I believe that will happen to Celtic?
Well, I’ll put it this way, it should NEVER happen, but it could.
It could because the custodians of our club believe we are untouchable, and that as a result, they too are untouchable.
Two games into this season, and all the Ibrox side has done has fueled our board’s egos.
Their opening draws have made them believe that the gamble they are taking by not backing Brendan Rodgers will pay off.
That no matter how shit we are, they are always going to be shittier than us.
But those lifelines they keep providing us with?
They will eventually come to an end.
I don’t doubt that.
The beginning of that end could come about 20 days from now at Ibrox.
We are toothless up front.
Both of our goals at Pittodrie yesterday came from midfield.
Adam Idah is a shadow of himself, utterly ineffective up front in the last two fixtures.
Whether that stems from the constant pressure over his price tag, or a complete lack of confidence, its hard to know.
The player himself has to know the opinion the snipers in the boardroom and the fanbase have of him.
And that in turn cannot help.
Regardless, Idah needs to snap out of his malaise.
And the best time to snap out of it would be at Ibrox.
But if we have to face the Ibrox side on their home patch with the current frontline we have, on the form it is in at the moment, then I suspect we are going to be in trouble.
Daizen Maeda also needs to snap out of his malaise.
And while he showed flashes of the Maeda we knew and loved last season, he was still well off the pace yesterday.
Then again, he always seems to come to life at Ibrox.
So that could turn out to be the stage for him to kick-start his season.
That is, of course, if we manage to navigate the minor hurdle that is our Champions League qualifier.
Because if we don’t, there’s a very good chance our wonderful board could decide to cash in on Daizen Maeda.
And based on their behaviour since the turn of this year, nothing they do would shock me.
I could very well see that happening.
But one thing I have resigned myself to is this, the lifelines Ibrox are supplying to us now WILL eventually dry up.
It cannot continue.
The 31st of August will be a barometer for the season ahead.
And as I said, the form of our current frontline does not fill me with confidence.
So, while we await the ultimate gamble to commence on the 19/20th of August, the outcome of said gamble will tell us what kind of season awaits.
One where it all comes apart at the seams.
Or one where we dominate once again, but the architect of it all walks away at the end of the season.
But hey, Desmond and the board know best.
And we’ve always trusted their judgement, that’s why we’re the best club in Scotland.
Are we though?
Or are we made to look good by the mediocrity that surrounds us?
You decide.
Oh wait, you can’t, because its already been decided by the men who know best.
They didn’t ask you, they didn’t give you a choice, and they never will.
But they’ll keep on taking your money, while they line their pockets with it.
And if you vocalise your displeasure?
The absentee landlord will give you his middle finger.
Why?
Because he can, and he knows he can, and nobody will tell him otherwise.
And that, my friends, will eventually turn into a huge problem.
Dermot Desmond is not Celtic.
Celtic is so much bigger that just one man.
Celtic was there long before Dermot Desmond, and Celtic will be there long after him.
Maybe its time he was reminded of that, regardless of the consequences?
But the timing of that reminder is key.
And that time will eventually come.
Mark my words, it will come…
If Celtic FC is ran and managed the correct way from the board , then by the time the tribute act gets it ‘ act together ‘ Celtic shall have sailed away into the incredible evening sunshine of success on and off the Park . It is a statistical fact Celtic do not need theRangers as winning opponents …that’s bollox ! That lot have been an utter shambles and basket case since liquidation in 2012 and Celtic has done very well without them . I can see other big investors involving themselves in other Scottish teams like Hibs , St Mirren and the like , so there will be just as much of a threat from them alongside Tony Bloom’s Hearts and others… theRangers ‘ shit together ‘ thing is a fallacy ? That’s what ‘ the greys ‘ of Celtic’s board will have to keep an eye on ….
Dermot Desmond is not Celtic.
Celtic is so much bigger that just one man.
Celtic was there long before Dermot Desmond, and Celtic will be there long after him.
Maybe its time he was reminded of that, regardless of the consequences?
But the timing of that reminder is key.
And that time will eventually come.
Mark my words, it will come…
————–
what actions do you want taken to remind him ? what might the consequences be ?
he lost $2m today.
0.07% of his wealth.
bummer.
A huge part of the Celtic support think the board is doing a great job, others see it differently. I am part of the latter. Despite the success and the big pot of money in the biscuit tin, the board is full of bang average journeymen. They lack the skill and the vision required to take the club to the next level. They are fairly competent in what they do, but they are not the people required to ramp things up a few gears. Top dogs in Scotland seems to be their level.
Rangers will get better for sure because,whether we like it or not, the people behind the takeover are astute business men. They know where they can go with Rangers 2 and they have the nous to make it happen. How long it takes is another story but the Celtic boards incompetence and dithering on so many fronts will help them along the way.
They just don’t have the skills required to stop it from happening. That has been evident for a number of years. As I said, the rangers will catch up with and probably overtake Celtic at some point in the future. I sincerely hope that I am not around to see it HH
@saint stivs.
Mibbe the (to the present date) ineffective Green Brigade could actually do something in the form of a Tifo to bring it to the old miser’s attention that shrouds don’t come with pockets.
I’m sure they have it within themselves to mount a campaign against this board of dinosaurs even if they were to be barred from the stadium.
Dave King wasn’t too far away from the truth when he made his “pack of cards ” remarks a few seasons ago.
He just didn’t visualise it in the way it might really happen.
All that is needed is for the huns to qualify for the Champions league and we don’t, followed by us getting our arses handed to us at the Stade de Bigot at the end of the month.
Paradoxically, if that has no effect on our fanbase then we deserve every thing the Paddy golfer and Parasite Pete insert up our collective arses.
That’s if our rebels without any baws can tear themselves away from their protests about Palestine !
This is a pathetic article from someone who is OBVIOUSLY anti Celtic despite your shameful claim that you are a fan.
The last couple of games results did not suit your agenda. Yes Eric that is a fact. Look at the shit you are now spewing e.g. it was two midfielders who scored an not Adam Idah the striker whom you thinks is a great striker but is now not so great. Let me tell you how I feel about who scored for Celtic. I DO NOT CARE. As long as we win.
One thing is sure we will not always reign supreme that is simply just a fact. We do have other clubs to compete with. You however will be looking to blame the Board which is getting pretty tiresome.
The fact is in the last 25 years in the U.K. there has not been a team as successful as Celtic in trophies won or financially managed. Yes at some point the team from Govan will win something and with glee you Eric will shamelessly along with your followers will shout I told you so.
It is time to start going to games and enjoying them instead of figuring how you can use it to support your agenda.
If the board do really eff up the fans will hold them accountable Meantime why don’t you stop running around with your other two cronies and followers screaming that the sky is following.
What other business treats its customer base with such contempt as this lot?Dinosaurs in a digital age.They qualify for CL and we don’t, followed by a win over us at the death star and things have already started to pivot and that’s a fact.The money from CL would give them a bit more breathing space and the astute business people the 49rs are would capitalise on this.3 weeks and we may find the trajectory we are on for sure.Eric has every right to be concerned with those old white men upstairs.They are self serving,narcissistic bean counters ,nothing more.
The double winning champions of Scotland’s performance and quality were on show at a very tough game on Sunday and the embryo club had f*ck all tae do wae it…….
HH
Yes, lack of spending on new players is a concern at the moment. Are current transfer discussions dependent on CL qualification? Maybe. Is that a risk? Maybe, but if transfer targets desire this, what can Celtic do about that except qualify. A lot of speculation I know, so let’s get to the facts. £11m for Engels, who has been bettered by Nygren at a fraction of that price, £9m for Idah who can’t buy a goal at the moment. Will likely have to be benched for Yamada soon if he keeps these performances up. That’s £20m that’s likely to sit on the bench until they show some product this season. Do you want Celtic to provide the same outlay on speculative project players that will now likely move on at a loss? That ship has sailed I suspect. It’s clearly back to the usual model of “good enough, improve, and profit”. Is that good enough for most fans? If silverware continues to be delivered, then I suggest it is. Is there still a risk of loss? Yes, but less of a risk. Is there a risk of losing ground to domestic competitors? Yes, but that remains a reality regardless of how much is spent. Your Utd and Liverpool example is a great example Eric. We gave a great fist of it in the CL last season and I hope we do so again. My opinion from last season remains, spending another £20m or £50m doesn’t guarantee it. The gap is huge against the other European giants. That isn’t lack of ambition, that’s practical reality. I’ve said it before, even now, the other half of Glasgow are mince, I don’t see a threat yet. I’m still angry at the losses against them last season, the lack of fight and desire from the Celtic players in a few of those games was evident, yet we almost walked away with another treble. I sincerely want them dominated throughout this season. And yes, I want a few new signings – but there is still time.
Good sensible post from Paul.