In a galaxy not so far far away…
A man walks into Tattersals Horse Sales and approaches a salesman.
“I’m looking for a thoroughbred, optimum age, 2-4 years and a proven record over quality track and distance.”
“Arent we all Sir” says the smiling Salesman. “Well we have lots of thoroughbreds on offer this weekend, what sort of level are you talking here?”
The man pauses, thinks and says “Well I will be mostly running it in local handicaps but I dream of winning a Group race here and there and to be honest, I aspire to win a Group 1!”
“Wow” says the salesman suddenly thinking of his commission. “May I enquire, what sort of budget are you talking?”
“100 thousand guineas perhaps, could maybe even stretch to 200?”
“I beg your pardon? stammers the salesman. “You expect a quality thoroughbred which can perform to optimum levels and meet any professional pressured demands against highly priced and developed peers for pin money?”
“Well, could I maybe borrow one then?” utters the man.
“Sir, Im sorry but your wasting my time, and may I say your own in this current pursuit. You either have to invest a large amount to acquire true quality or you need to lower your performance expectations and work within realistic frameworks”
“But Im good with yearlings!, and I’ve won a few local point to points too, I can win the big races, Im sure I can!” says the man.
“Yearlings are fine up against other yearlings sir or down in the lower grades but you have to remember their range is always limited” said the Salesman. “A good yearling can give you thrills over one season over certain distances but if you dare try running it against truly proven hardened quality over and over again in the really big races then it will simply crash and burn. Yearlings are a long term project, you need time, technique, facilities and of course patience and understanding, always knowing where and when you should be running them!” said the salesman.
“Really?..I just run mine everywhere, what’s the problem” asked the man?
“Im sure that it can feel great parading them in the big ring but if you put too much demand on them too soon you will only set them back both physically and mentally . They need gradual exposure for progression. They need guided with encouragement not exposed to constant ridicule. Its slow and steady not sink or swim. ” suggested the salesman
“Yeah yeah okay!” sighed the man. who then pleaded “What about some old thoroughbreds that have been there, done that. Are there any of them going for sale?”.
“There’s always a few old crocks kicking about to be picked up. They have the pedigree sure and the ribbons and might well seem decent value but you have to remember the very high maintenance costs, the concentration lapses and then they have already plateaued so you then have the constant decline and ultimately you will be writing off any investment. ” suggested the saleman.
“But I thought an Oldie or two could help with schooling my yearlings” said the man.
“Of course they can assist here and there but that sort of thing is usually best just left to your trainers in truth. You do have a team of good experienced high level trainers I assume?” asked the salesman.
“Well” sighed the man.
“Tell you what” said the salesman scanning a nearby brochure, “There is a selling plate race race tomorrow up at Perth, perhaps you could pick up a few cheap deals there..no real class but hey, you never know eh..you might just get lucky!”
“Yeah, maybe I might” said the man, who turned up his collar to the approaching cold wind and slowly turned to head towards the exit.
This defence, is bereft of life…
Apols for changing the title
DESIMOND
I know where I lay the blame for last night. And while there’s a few people sharing it,there’s one who gets a bigger slice of that pie than anyone else.
The guy who made sure that the pie was rotten anyway,wi poor quality ingredients.
I am wondering about the moral of your story, are you suggesting we spend 20 or 30 times our potential prize money for winning our domestic league in the hope of making a dent in Europe or are you suggesting that we realise our place in the pecking order of finance driven European competition and to appreciate our lot? I’m just old enough to remember Lisbon and appreciate that the “system ” was much fairer then, the gulf between leagues wasn’t quite so marked and players could be got of a decent standard for an appropriate risk/reward strategy. Today however I offer Ross McCormack as an example, tidy if limited player that is completely out with our chance of signing unless you part with the thick end of 60k a week and £10 million in transfer fees. Would he have made us a better bet last night?
So far this season we have had
1 half against Aberdeen
1 half against Hearts
1 away game to Anderletch ( no manager)
1 home game to Zenit ( Winter hibernation)
The quality is not present. A combination of tactics and personnel.
Delusions of grandeur (competitive levels and play styley) need addressed by all and back to basics time.
Horses for courses as currently we all seem rather blinkered in one way or another throughout the club.
Desimond,
Where did you get the pic of Charlie Saiz?
I’ve been telling everyone for long enough that the Goalkeeper and defence is inadequate, even a supposed ‘ full strength ‘ defence is nowhere near good enough.
There is only one defender i’d keep, Kieran Tierney.
Gordon, De Vries, Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Boyata & Ajer.
All out!
Bain must be played in goal until Gordon returns…then leaves obviously.
Bitton, Kouassi, Allan, Ciftci – out!
Like Ajer i fail to see what anyone sees in Kouassi, i see little to convince me he will be a long term mainstay.
We are the one-eyed man playing football in the land of the blind. As soon as we set foot out of Scotland we’re fucked.
We are all aware of our players limitations and financial limitations but perhaps a manager who could drive players to excel themselves might help.
Anyone for Lenny?
prod,
Are you allowed out between 7 & 7?
I am Monti, but only at weekends. Thanks for the concern.
😉
desi ask the salesman if hees got an tips for the weekends racing please ……….and dont accept dont bet
I mind that movie…a bunch of desperate resource free but hopeful youngsters put themselves through physical, mental and emotional turmoil, all in the hope of landing the grand prize that was always just out of reach and left them dead on their feet.
great movie that
https://youtu.be/7l4L6HW5mQE
Weered,
No i’m not going to say it, my bad.
We’re merely running our bull..Etims, through the Cappuccino machine of innovation, see if it comes oot frothy.
Morning campers, Climbing the north face of news making again are we,
triffic. Drop the deed donkey.
Good analogy. Horses for courses?
A horse doesn’t know its worth. The agent of any half decent player almost certainly over values his worth . Lets go buy a Brazilian international central defender. Get real .
See when a horse sees another leave it in its dust, it knows its not as good as that horse..it doesn’t matter how hard it tries, its not getting close and its rating will never get above average, no matter what the trainer tries or whatever races it gets entered into.
Been there done it, he was Shite (or summit like that).
Hows about Brendan stops pursing football dreams and tries a realistic approach. Get defenders clearing lines at every opportunity. Get midfielders blocking and tackling. Have alternative plans depending on each game. Hey even play not to lose where necessary.
if Brendan insists on playing high level football away in Europe, then he needs to insist on high level footballers. Expecting young works in progress to get better by repeating same mistakes over and over again will not end well for anyone concerned.
Franco,
I was told in my teenage years that i had a cock that would choke a horse…..:)
Its True it was Rocking Mahn.
Scheidt idea
The good news is that it get’s easier next season with an extra two qualifiers to get through to the group stage.
Have the scouts identified a new goalkeeper, right back and two central defenders?
We must build from the back, from the goalkeeper out.
This developing Ajer to a defender from a midfielder is fantasy, in my opinion, let’s say that Brendan wants to persevere with Ajer at the back, would it not be better for the likes of Ajer & Hendry learning from more established & experienced defenders?
You could bring Ajer or Hendry on if the team is two or three up in a game, that way they are coming on to the pitch with the pressure off, instead of expecting these guys to be the answer now?
One thing that is clear is that Jozo is no answer in either SPFL with plastic pitches or Europe. Thanks but time to go.
The midfielder to Defender plan was poor with Bitton but I like Ajer as a player and believe he could be a good centre half but needs quality beside him and some “street” as ralp alluded to recently about him.
Dorus has had 2 strikes now, dare we risk the cost of another, I doubt it. Lustig is a decent guy but time to plan for the future, Tuerney is being worn ever down and deserves a break and aslo better colleagues beside him.
Well said…Again, Give young Ajer a proper quality centre-half beside him to guide and teach him, he has the quality to get better and better, best of all he wants to learn and develop, he also has the physique to get to the very top. Even some Liverpool supporters are encouraging the club to look at him and keep an eye on him.
Sumanovic, he is not value for money, always injured and far too fragile, same with Lustig, his best days are well behind him, I just hope that Ralston comes back soon, see how he gets on for the rest of the season. As for Devries, he should be nowhere near the first team, play Bain instead, he should be given the chance to play, his contract is up soon, so possibilities are there.
Its something when we are all saying “Lets have that guy who couldn’t get a game at Hibs or even Dundee in the Celtic goal as we head into key time of the season”
Says it all for Squad planning at Celtic at present,
Its Brendans appointed recruitment team nowadays and already it needs an internal review.
Sadly,de Vries signed a new contract,until 2019,Mike.
You’ll never win anything with kids.
In Hansens other words – “Don’t forget that the spine of that team included Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Eric Cantona”
C’mon Bhoys,stop this negative nonsense.Another Treble coming up,WorldClass manager,very happy players playing brilliantly week in week out.Hotels,museums,superstores,lovely dividends,millions in the bank,no title challenge.Dembele worth £40m…….This post is severely sponsored by Prosac and Guinness…..
🙂
The good racehorses have gone to pastures new, settling into there new sumptuous pastures, with new straw bedding, oceans of water and heated stables, with an inside heated pool. The farrier provides 24 hour cover and the vet is on speed dial. In a stable built for Arabian thoroughbreds with Arab Princes money somewhere near Paris, there favourite stallion is called Neymar, who prances about like he is the Prince, despised by everyone, nobody likes him, he don’t care.
But when called upon to race, his sure footedness leaves the other stallions standing, fast of foot, watch him go, leaning into the bends with an arrogance that matches his breeding. Not for him, fresh straw, he beds down with sumptuous comfort, with fresh young fillies to serve his every demand, his wish is his desire,(lucky basa). The pride of his fillies, a beautiful dark skinned beauty called Susanna, as she fulfils his desire she shouts out, naemair, naemair Neymar, I beg of you please stop…. the morra.
On the bright side, a new phrase muscles its way (unlike the Celtic team last night) into everlasting fame:
Sorry, Miss, no homework today. The knuckle ball fooled me.
No, boss, it’s not ready yet. The knuckle ball fooled me.
Etc.
What about Troy
Deeney talk shite….
It was a very decent 1979 Derby winner but if you mean the wooden horse..that campaign took 10 long years mind
Desi,
We had 11 wooden horses and couldn’t even make a dent in the wall.
Looks like our campaign will take for ever.
Chin up. Aberdeen may be as cold as St. Petersburg but it is a bit nearer so our lads shouldn’t need to have a KitKat break every ten minutes.
I thought you could choose your own Lenten penance 🙂 Looks like our lot have given up football. It’s been a long Lent, mind you. Started for way back in July 17 with the odd day off to play proper football. I just hope they don’t think it lasts for 40 weeks instead of 40 days.
H H
Achilles = Paris and Barcelona!!!!!! 🙂
H H
A horse meets a donkey at the dancing. They hit it off and go home to the horses house. The walls are covered in pictures of the horse with captions underneath. The 1000 Guineas, The Derby, The Oaks etc etc.The donkey is hugely impressed by the horses winning pedigree. Anyway they have a good night and the horse suggests that next week they meet at donkey’s house. He agrees but all week is worried How does he impress the horse, a thoroghbred racehorse with multiple titles ? He goes to the zoo and takes a picture of a zebra, gets it blownup to mega size and hangs it on his wall. It takes up the whole side of the room. The horse arrives.
‘Wow, that’s an impressive picture, what is that?’
‘Oh nothing’ replies the donkey.
‘No tell me, says the horse, ‘I’m really interested’
‘Aw that’ says the donkey…’Ah used to play for Juventus’
We need to get behind Brendan and the team, it’s that fucking simple!
I remember in the early 90’s when we were shite i defended our club at every turn, no fucking hun would talk Celtic down in front of me or the shit would hit the fan.
I actually felt closer to Celtic when we were shite, now we are winning everything in sight and we are all moaning like fuck, me included…it’s mad.
Our club needs us, our manager needs us and we need each other, unified, proud, loud and right behind our team!
Fuck the Huns & Aberdeen…..want our title?
Let’s fucking have it ya cunts.
GOD BLESS THE POPE!
Monti,erudition personified.That’s the type of team talk BR should be dishing out to the players(with interpreters for the hard of understanding)….We believe in One Holy Catholic Church…..no hotels…..
Weered,some wins please? We’ve had enough draws now,thank you kind sir……
And there it is in a nutshell. Gaun yersel Monti. That’s my take on it as well. All these wankers and their grandiose sense of entitlement shite gets right on my thruppenys.
Evening Weered,
You are well comrade?
Jeremy Kyle?
What a load of bollocks.
The great Lester rode donkeys first past the winning post.I know ,my money was on them.
Enough of the Donkey Craic….
Signed,
C.Saiz
Red Rum, a Horse made with a heart of Gold, sure there’s a song in there somewhere, over the rainbow.
Desi,
How do you feel about our support trying to make out a field of donkeys are actually thoroughbred horses? As for the jockey, well…..? Time for a bit of whipping – now, now, mike 🙂
h h
Using Ralph’s designated symbols for fake, lower-case 🙂
He’s a faker right enough, a whip is no use whatsoever without the cream and sprinkles of chocolate, its where you put it that makes the difference. Well done auld bhoy. 😉
Admiration for Ralph calling as it is without trying to be the sycophant. With the constraints Rodgers work with financially he’s done ok and he’s managed to build up cult status with his reserved personality and local success, we humiliate sevco, win every trophy, what more can a manager do? Here lies the conundrum . Wgs and Lennon had better European success and it can be argued that they did it with a stronger rangers as competition thus having a competitive minded cohort at their disposal seasoned for a fight. However, Europe is a different animal, different style of football, coupled with a yearning return to being some force on the continent that’s demanded by our fans, he has made some headway but only a fraction more than Delia. His signings haven’t made any impact at all in Europe apart from dembele in the first year,. Last week in the first leg it was looking good but we all knew that defence was going to crumble sooner or later. So, to me, as if anyone gives a fuck, he doesn’t know what’s required in Europe. That was proven with Liverpool, I’ve never witnessed a fighting performance in Europe with Rodgers teams apart from last week and the man city games We’ve either dominated with the slow passing game against the likes of Rosenberg or Astana and anderlecht away. The other games against psg and Bayern have shown a naivety in the team which has been downright embarrassing. I agree with Ralph. It’s time to go.
The second goal against Aberdeen yesterday was a masterful piece of counterattacking and Celtic should have used that as a strategy in Europe. His players aren’t capable (some too young and inexperienced and some too old and slow) for full flowing attacking play against European opposition. And I think that will always be the case. You have to change strategy to suit the circumstances. Counterattacking when it suits, attacking when it suits – not the same strategy whatever the circumstances. Aberdeen again showed Jozo and Lustig need to be replaced, they cant even perform at the required level in the SPFL. BR has to add pragmatism to his other undoubted skills and he has to realize that some players have performance ceilings that even a great coach can’t take them beyond.
Financially he’s set us up and turned it around I will never forget what Rodgers has done don’t get me wrong here. With the deila comparison I mean it in football terms. Rodgers has wisdom, he’s more than a football man. He will make clubs like celtic and Swansea money and get the best out of players he is an excellent man manager. But don’t you get the feeling it’s not going to get any better and his work could be completed by someone else ? He’s set a platform for a different kind of manager to get us to the next level, someone with European savvy. I think he’s a bit worn out with the experience and realise he’s plateaued with this club and hanging around much longer will reduce his stock
Ian,who would “complete ” his work? Worn out? He’s only in his mid 40s and cruised it last year.If money is available,we need to buy seasoned pros to stabilise and help with the progression of the younger Bhoys……
Has there ever been in the history of football that a club that competed with another financially doped club and as a consequence racked up about £40 mill. pounds of debt. Then brought in another manager to cut the wage bill to shreds and got rid of all its hugely paid players. Turned the club around, was successful in its own country and then raised the bar of financial gain until it had a £97 mill. turnover and now has cash in the bank to the tune of £31 mill. pounds. This is a great feat for most businesses, but this is a football club, not an investment company, that money should have been spent on quality players, not players who cannot handle pressure, who combined are frightened to compete on the bigger stage. WHY are we not spending that money on players who have the courage to fight for the jersey, they are out there in our price range. As for Rodgers, he a Celtic supporter is in another league from Delia or WGS he needs the board to release the funds to make us better.
FFS even Xavi is saying it now, a player who loves our club, this £1. mill. pound signings, its hopeless, it may be alright for the SPFL but the team will NEVER progress in Europe without 2/3 QUALITY signings, we have the money, its in the accounts, get it spent on the players we NEED.
The hotel and museum should be a stand alone project, it was costed at £18 mill. spend £20 mill. on the players we need, let the supporters see the team that they should have.
Argument here is that Rodgers would do better with more money mike? Would he ? Do you think he’d get us into the last sixteen in the champions league with extra cash? Or do you think he’s reached his level? He had an open cheque book with Liverpool basically and funnily enough zenit got his measure
Ian,with more money,his team would definitely be more than 6 points ahead of so called,a club/company that,on the pitch,should be nowhere near us.The biscuit tin mentality has returned and bitten us on the bahookie……
Ian, Brendan did not get the signings that he wanted at Liverpool, he made requests to the Liverpool signings committee and they had the last word, more often than not his requests were ignored, or refused.
Look at Liverpool this season under Klopp he is benefitting now from some Rodgers signings, but the stand out player Salah is playing out of his skin, HE is the main reason that the Pool might move up the table.
Weered,unfortunately,in Scottish football,our youngsters would get kicked all over the park aided by bent officials…..
Ok. I know fuck mike., watching Kevin bridges atm cracking me up he reminds me not to get neurotic about the goings on at Celtic. Just trying to be a smartarse. Sure it’s all going to be ok rather get put out by Russians I like Russians. They’re not your smartarse Germans or french fuckers caught up in their superiority, patronising English or whatever. Can’t take it all too seriously like you I love celtic just want a bit too much.
Ian, We both want the very best for Celtic, for me its the board that are being the smart arses, the supporters are paying BIG money to watch games and we have amassed £31 fucking million pounds and Rodgers is buying £300, 000 players from the championship, or £1.00 mill. on old players not even eligible for the Europa league. Something’s not right when that shite is being dropped on the support.
£40.00 mill. debt sanctioned by D.D. and the support were left to pick up the bill, then watched austerity hitting the club, if he sanctioned it, he should have paid the bill, he’s got plenty and certainly can afford it, his club, his rules, his money and the support pay for it……. JOKE… Hope your good mate, lets hope we crush the sheep tonight. T.G. (Tommy Gemmell.)
Tierny, YYYEEESSS thank feck 2-0. Lustig GTF.