quote:

Originally posted by evil_bastard Celtic and Rangers do have a good record against English teams but you've got to remember that English teams are in the middle of a tough season playing sides of that calibre week in week out. Celtic and Rangers have a stroll in the park most weeks and can afford to rest their players before big games. If Celtic had faced sides like Man Utd, Arsenal, Blackburn, Southampton etc 3 days before and after all their UEFA Cup games, would they have got as far as they did? Possibly not. Take Newcastle's first fortnight of this season for example, we play Partizan Belgrade (away), Leeds (away), Man Utd (home), Partizan Belgrade (home), that's all in 14 days. Celtic and Rangers play a load of pub teams in comparison.

Fair point...to a degree

The difference with Celtic and Rangers, compared to Sunderlands, Barnsleys and Ipwich's of this world is our wordlwide support. These clubs gambled everything on spending too much money without being financially prudent. Celtic and Rangers have the basis of a good squad, we will need a couple of class players to make us a serious contender.

We have the backing of the biggest season book sales in Britain (outwith Man U)and a bigger international support (Celtic have more fan clubs around the world than any other club worldwide....again with the exception of Man U)

Celtic were on the brink of banckrupcy a few years ago and pulled themselves out of it. We now have 52,000 season book holders and 15,000 on the waiting list...some turnaround. I can guarantee the club will never get that low again.

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quote:

Originally posted by big dave no but last year celtic did play: Mar 8 Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers Final score Mar 13 Celtic 1 - 1 Liverpool Final score Mar 16 Celtic 1 - 2 Rangers Final score Mar 20 Liverpool 0 - 2 Celtic Final score not the easiest of games in 13 days! these were all big games and no players were rested as we couldnt afford to! we were at one point around 8 points behind in the league with about 5 games left! we clawed the deficit back and lost out on the final day on goal difference! ps i wouldnt be scared of playing blackburn 3 days before a euro tie, they forgot to do everything they said they would do to us at ewood park, like winning

You've picked one of the toughest (if not the toughest) fortnight of Celtic's season as an example. The example I gave was an average fortnight for Newcastle.

exactly my point id say celtic and rangers fans would rather have tough games week in week out!

parkhead is now toss as its a "family" stand

i prefer the away games where the "real" celtic supporters go!

the atmosphere is still electric even although we know were usually going to win by a few goals! if we had to see teams like arsenal newcastle man etc etc im sure the crowds at parkhead would soon pick up again and generate the atmosphere of the old jungle

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quote:

Originally posted by TheMightyCad Fair point...to a degree The difference with Celtic and Rangers, compared to Sunderlands, Barnsleys and Ipwich's of this world is our wordlwide support. These clubs gambled everything on spending too much money without being financially prudent. Celtic and Rangers have the basis of a good squad, we will need a couple of class players to make us a serious contender. We have the backing of the biggest season book sales in Britain (outwith Man U)and a bigger international support (Celtic have more fan clubs around the world than any other club worldwide....again with the exception of Man U) Celtic were on the brink of banckrupcy a few years ago and pulled themselves out of it. We now have 52,000 season book holders and 15,000 on the waiting list...some turnaround. I can guarantee the club will never get that low again.

"we will need a couple of class players to make us a serious contender"

Of course, but teams Like Newcastle, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton etc are all thinking in the same way. It's not necessarily that simple in the Premier League. Leeds might not have been the most shrewd with their money but it was that kind of thinking which has ruined them. Newcastle are only a couple of players short of a title challenge but we have to be patient, if we dig deep into our wallet and get hit by injuries we could be the next Leeds.

Newcastle also have a 52,000 stadium which is similar to Celtic and bigger than Rangers, yet we've won nothing for 34 years. Sunderland have 48,00 capacity, about the same size as Rangers, yet last season they lost 15 games in a row and now face administration. With teams like Sunderland and Man City sporting 48,000 capacity stadiums and Arsenal and Tottenham talking about using Wembley and building a 60,000+ stadium your current gate receipts wouldn't guarantee anything.

I honestly think your fanbase would diminish if you joined the Premier League. In the Premier League you would look far less mighty than you do in the SPL. Also around the world people who follow Celtic or Raners in the SPL follow sides like Man Utd or Liverpool in the EPL. You'd find yourself fighting for a market which currently you don't need to fight for. In short, you'd have to share the spoils.

Don't get me wrong, Celtic and Rangers would make the EPL the most competitive league in the world and I think it'd be very exciting. With the exception of Middlesbrough and possibly Leeds you would be our nearest teams which would certainly be better than going all the way to London, Southampton, Portsmouth etc. I think your first few seasons here would really be make or break time, I agree you could go far but a couple of bad seasons could really ruin you and the recovery here is far more difficult. For Newcastle I think this will also be a make orbreak season, if we can get in the top 4 again we will be definite challengers for the title the season after, but if we fail to make the top 4 we will be in trouble imo.

Last edited by evil_bastard on Aug-12-2003 at 16:20

quote:

Originally posted by big dave exactly my point id say celtic and rangers fans would rather have tough games week in week out! parkhead is now toss as its a "family" stand i prefer the away games where the "real" celtic supporters go! the atmosphere is still electric even although we know were usually going to win by a few goals! if we had to see teams like arsenal newcastle man etc etc im sure the crowds at parkhead would soon pick up again and generate the atmosphere of the old jungle

I think all clubs are experiencing the same problems with the hardcore fans being priced out of the stadium and the safety regulation in British grounds ruining the atmosphere. I can't afford a season ticket (plus like you we have a long waiting list) but I hope to make a few away games this year as well as travelling for a Champs League game. The atmosphere of travelling with fans is amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by evil_bastard I think all clubs are experiencing the same problems with the hardcore fans being priced out of the stadium and the safety regulation in British grounds ruining the atmosphere. I can't afford a season ticket (plus like you we have a long waiting list) but I hope to make a few away games this year as well as travelling for a Champs League game. The atmosphere of travelling with fans is amazing.

i actually have a season ticket which i myself rarely use! i prefer to give it to my younger sister! i pay the ticket which is far from cheap but if i didnt theres no gaurantee i wuld get my ticket back anytime soon (ie the next 10 years)!

i do however preder the away games as theres more atmosphere! i agree about the safety regulations, they are there to prevent another disaster like hilsborough but i would like to see terracing being introduced again as long as it was safe to do so! this provided a far better atmosphere and would allow for more fans to get in to see the game and provide more revenue! it would allow people who dont have enough money for season tickets etc to still go!

i agree we would have to share the spoils but in the long run sharing would still provide us with more than we are already getting!

sky are supposedly interested in the scottish tcv rights for next season! at a measly £60m compare that the EPL!

___________________
This was a place of fun and madness that is sadly long gone now

All the best to all the UKTAs

08/01/16

Big Dave/little Dave