07 Mar 2014 21:21:50
Question for all the board haters on here who moan about the lack of investment in quality players . Just say Celtic went out and spent £50 million to strengthen the team, where do you think this would put us in terms of success at home and abroad? My thoughts are it would guarantee us the SPL which is guaranteed anyway, probably pretty much guarantee us the treble, guarantee CL qualification? maybe, but we've done this anyway for the last couple of seasons, guarantee us last 16? definately not. What I'm trying to say is in this day and age of the cash laden leagues £50 million is loose change and guarantees nothing. Another point that gets mentioned a lot is ticket pricing which I agree is way overpriced, but this is a problem in the whole of Scottish football, I believe it's near £20 to get into a Falkirk game, so going by that Celtic at £28 is probably about right. The cost to watch Scottish football needs to be addressed urgently. ....Stevie

1.) 07 Mar 2014
I don't hate the Board or anything like that at all. I actually find the 'relationship' some have with the Board weird lol

It's a means to an end, they manage the cashflow. It's not perfect but its not horrendous either. We shouldn't need to spend millions to win domestically but we want to at least compete a bit in Europe. Celtic rake in a lot more than other Scottish Clubs and a helluva lot comes from the fans - merchandise and matchday revenue. We just want a wee something back and not the lacklustre performances of this season.

2.) 07 Mar 2014
07 Mar 2014 23:20:33
Mrs E I think in financial terms we are a group stage CL team, which is what we are. In size of club I believe we are a top 8 European Club. Unfortunately in todays football world there are many clubs nowhere near as big as Celtic that can finance world class players

{Ed007's Note - I'd say we should be aiming to be a Last 16 of the CL team or the 3rd place team who drops down to the EL, Stevie. Anything less should be seen as a failure IMO. All the talk about being grateful just to be in the CL does my nut in, we're there because we have earned the right to be there, why haven't we earned the right to take it to the next level to be seen as a good CL team and not some minnows that are there to make up the numbers.
I've said it before and I still maintain that CFC and some of our supporters have adopted, and accepted, a small club mentality. You rarely see managers, players or board members of other clubs say that it's a great achievement just to qualify apart from Rangers, it was just another myth peddled by the media to cover up for their failings in Europe.}

3.) 07 Mar 2014
Stevie your spot on wether it be 50 40 or 30mil? Even still the treble could be shaky as one off games can be a killer so no guarantee!
I'm not a board hater, but I am of the guys that don't think their doing enough, off the field? Can't ask for any more really!? On it? They haven't backed the manager!
Being a realist I can understand where that are at, crap league and set up, no competition and guaranteed CL qualifiers, beyond that? Slowly diminishing.
Unfortunately if we keep going the way we are, we will struggle to get past that stage!
The board have made it clear that is what's needed, so why hamper it?
Given what we have made, the outgoings are abismal, the boards lies are being taken in and unless it changes in the nxt 4/5 yrs there won't be CL football!
We have been selling to spend, and being replaced with mince.
Poss 6/10mil out with our selling income shouldn't be out of the question every3/4 seasons? Especially what we would make actually qualifying for CL and not risking it!?
Lawwell stated the money made and retained through sales and CL football would make celtic sustainable for the nxt 3/4 years! Well I'm sorry, but if they guys can't make them sustainable without money that isn't and shouldn't be guaranteed then they aren't doing their job, you can't account for money that isn't there!

Bigbadjohn

4.) 08 Mar 2014
07 Mar 2014 23:58:37
Ed I think sadly the reality is that football today is ruled by cash and we are a small club on those terms . You can guarantee that this seasons last 8 in CL will consist of clubs from the 4 TV funded rich leagues. Not impossible though to break into the fat cats league, Porto, Rosenbourg and I think it was Czech side last season that done it

{Ed007's Note - Olympiacos this year could be in the Last 8 and as I posted the other week we are well above their level financially. If we were due to go to Old Trafford with a 2-0 lead wouldn't you be gutted if we lost or would you still feel that at least we were 'allowed' to get as far? It isn't just all about money to have a well organised, hard to beat team.}

5.) 08 Mar 2014
08 Mar 2014 00:38:03
Forgot about them hope they get through although I know you won't lol. The only clubs globally that are bigger than us imo are Real, Barca, Milan, Juve, Man U, Liverpool, Bayern, possibly Inter and Dortmund, I know Asia has jumped on the Chelsea bandwagon but that doesn't count imo, I'm talking about deep rooted support. What's your thoughts ed on biggest clubs globally

{Ed007's Note - I think you're about right there but if you are going to discount Chelsea you need to discount Liverpool. Both Chelsea and Arsenal have more world-wide support than Liverpool and they all have millions of Asian fans and it is estimated that Chelsea have around 140 million fans around the world, Arsenal an estimated 115 million and Liverpool have only around 70 million. Liverpool aren't as well supported now as they were in the past, remember a lot of their success came before the TV saturation so they haven't picked up as much younger fans around the world than more successful teams.
Barca with an estimated 260 million fans are a perfect example of how a bit of success can boost the figures, it's only over the last few years that they have had any notable period of success compared to teams like Man Utd, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Munich, the Milan clubs and Juve who have all had overall success over sustained periods over the years time. Then there are clubs like Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan and Boca Juniors from Argentina who we tend to overlook because we don't get brainwashed by TV about them.}

6.) 08 Mar 2014
Stevie which honest football fan, of any club, doesn't want to see their club spend as much as they can afford on the team.

7.) 08 Mar 2014
Got to agree on your outlook on Liverpool.I live in epl brainwashed Ireland and take my word for it the Liverpool support here are in cloud cuckoo land. They are convinced they are a box office club and they believe only united and madrid hold more global stature than them.
Gally

8.) 08 Mar 2014
Gally, that is what happens when you are 5 time European Champions, there are very few clubs bigger than us, barring the two you mention and perhaps Barca and AC Milan.
Ed007, them stats make me laugh, all 3 clubs you mention toured Asia last year, with us selling out every stadium, and Chelsea and Arsenal playing in half empty stadiums. Stats such as them cannot be used to judge club size, as they reflect very little. For example, United will score very highly, but if they have another season like this, they will struggle to sell out Old Trafford on a match day.

{Ed007's Note - The figures are estimates that people use Smithy, just because you're team aren't showing too well don't take it out on me. We all know you Scousers are a touchy bunch when faced with the truth.}

9.) 08 Mar 2014
Smithy I'm glad it was you! I'm not the same kind of fan you are of Liverpool but I do feel strongly about the Club. Regardless of how big their fanbase is, debt is etc etc - it changes nothing.

Considering they haven't been successful and need a new stadium, Liverpool do alright.

Would be good to see some of the other Clubs give it a go - Chelsea with no CL football for a few seasons and floating about mid league ppfft?

10.) 08 Mar 2014
I was merely pointing out that such stats are utterly pointless Ed, I wasn't, taking anything out on anybody. Simply put, I think everybody should support their local team, so our worldwide fan base is of little interest. Care to elaborate on us not liking to face the truth? Sounds like a bad manc shout that, thought you were better than snide little digs like that.

{Ed007's Note - Without your worldwide fan-base you would be in an even worse financial position though. You're bang out of order with your second point, you know I never meant anything like that, get a grip and stop and being so touchy. I have a pop at Liverpool fans flying off the handle when faced with facts about their current position and you accuse me of that, I thought you were better than that?
Would you care to elaborate on why that could be seen as a Manc dig if you want to drag it down to that level, I don't think you want to go down that road, do you?}
That says says a hell of a lot more about you than me.}

11.) 08 Mar 2014
Yes Mrs.E when you think that the club nearly went bust a few years back we have done incredibly well, and have a very good young squad, with, hopefully, champions league football to come next season. It is starting to become a really exciting time to be a Liverpool fan again.
Ed007, I've always got on we'll with you on here, and apologise if you meant nothing more to it. However it read terribly, and we all know the connotations regarding 'the truth' and Liverpool Football Club. The fact your phrase was plural suggested to me it couldn't have just been me not seeing what such stats indicate, and since the only time I've ever seen any indication of Liverpool fans not accepting the truth is by mancs and Chelsea fans regarding Hillsborough/Heysel I questioned you further. I expected it would be down to a poorly chosen turn of phrase, however if I think there is the slightest chance of somebody using people dying as a way of point scoring I will question it. Again, if this was not the case I apologise. Not sure what that says about me though.

{Ed007's Note - Perhaps you're just the type that is always looking for something to be offended at. You know talk like that isn't welcome on any of the sites.}

12.) 08 Mar 2014
Ed what is the estimated amount of tic fans worldwide?

{Ed007's Note - It's estimated at between 9 and 10 million Barry.}

13.) 09 Mar 2014
Smithy, maybe it's me and Clubs 'nearly' going bust lol

I usually rise to these things but I'm trying to be good :-)

Liverpool are still huge and if you had a poll to say which English Clubs could hold their own without the broadcasting cash the EPL attracts, the smart votes would be on Liverpool being near the top.

I know at lot of folk that support teams that are much smaller than Celtic, Liverpool and Man Utd, there is no way I can get away with coming out with big time chat. Very easy to support a team that wins all the time and gets a trophy every other season. Try traipsing up and down the Country just for the love of the Club and the game.

14.) 09 Mar 2014
Cheers Ed, that just shows you how much power money has in football, I would never of thought Chelsea, a team that sold it's soul for money would have so many fans, what's that 14, 15 times more than us, that's unbelievable, I dare to think how great our worldwide support would be if we played in the epl.

{Ed007's Note - What club hasn't sold it's soul Barry? Football is now all about getting you to part with as much money as possible.}

15.) 10 Mar 2014
Very true ED, but most haven't stooped so low, changing a teams badge and colours to suit the new owner is just ridiculous. we would never allow that to happen to Celtic.

{Ed007's Note - That whole Cardiff situation will not end well Barry, the thing with Hull/Hull Tigers will probably be the same.}