Yesterday Celtic motored through the gears at McDiarmid Park.
Five-nil at halftime, four of them from a winger and all six goals came from open play.
The Rogic Forrest interplay on the edge of the St Johnstone penalty box was redolent of the Invincible Treble season.
It was a consummate performance from the Champions and especially impressive given the midweek mauling in Salzburg.
At the moment Mr Gerrard is giving the hacks something succulent to write about apropos his European exploits.
However, they might want to keep a closer eye on the court proceedings involving Mr King.
Last week the South African based convicted criminal was represented in the Court of Session against the Takeover Panel.
I’m told that Mr King wanted the entire proceedings thrown out on a technicality and had instructed his QC accordingly.
The Takeover Panel’s legal chap informed Dave’s brief if that course of action was pursued then the cold shoulder could be applied without delay.
Meanwhile, the Serious Professional accompanied the Conveyancing Consigliere to the Square Mile.
Unsurprisingly they struck out, as there were no offers of emergency finance.
At one office they didn’t even get past reception!
A cynic might conclude that they were looking for a loan to pay back the £4m they owe Close Brothers.
That has to be found by February of next year.
Mr Gerrard continues to bring in European revenue with points in the Europa League, but the wage bill has been exponentially increased to achieve that.
At Perth yesterday Brendan Rodgers called time on his “bloated” squad.
Consequently, the January transfer window should be interesting.
Undoubtedly Mr Gerrard will ask the Sevco High Command for more resources in the first month of 2019.
Of course, the main difference between Celtic and Sevco in this regard is money, lots and lots of money.
It might even create a sporting advantage.
Strange that…
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
How many will turn up at Hampden on Sunday for the visit of an uninspiring Portugal with no Ronaldo in the squad, 20,000?
Will the SFA clear enough money to cover their opponents guaranteed fee plus expenses?
Is there a contingency plan to offload thousands of free tickets to schools to put sone bums on seats and make it look more of a spectacle for the TV broadcaster rather than panning around a half empty stadium?
Does the TV fee eclipse the gate money that would have been generated by say another 5,000 fans paying at the turnstiles if the game wasn’t being televised?
Who knows as the Hampden secret society do their best to drive fans away from the game.
It’s noticeable that the new era and handover to Maxwell has gone seamlessly, so much so that you could be forgiven that nothing has changed, quelle surprise.
It was noticeable on Sunday that passing the ball slowly along the back line, then repeat ad infinitum to no purpose, wasn’t in the the game plan.
Boyata, in particular, stepped forward on numerous occasions to intercept the ball and make positive forward passes to the mid and front players and the results were there for everyone to see.
Funny how Laurel and Hardy on Sportscene were quick to legitimise Rangers first goal with no in depth analysis or footage to show exactly who was playing the Rangers players onside.
On a similar vein Brendan is being linked with every vacancy as it occurs, or is likely too, in the EPL or Championship but despite the fantastic job being done by Stevie G over at Ibrox his name never comes up?
I wonder why, perhape he’s waiting for the Liverpool job to become available?
Much was made of the glorious victory over Rapid last week with little mention that they are in the bottom 4 of the Austrian Bundesliga having won 2 from 9 games this season resulting in the departure of the manager.
Much as Celtic were poor last week there is no doubt that Red Bull were a class above. 9 from nine in the same league as Rapid and unbeaten in 49 home games in all competitions, with some big scalps included, and just pipped at the last step to the 2018 UEFA Cup Final by the eventual winners.
It’s a comparison that the Scottish media have given a wide bodyswerve to as it doesn’t suit their agenda.
Have Rangers improved? Of course they have. Anyone inheriting the dross from Pedro and the Bread Man’s watch could only go in one direction if they were given free reign to identify and bring in their own players.
Despite Celtic’s poor start to the season they are a home game away against Hearts from going top of the table and 2 points ahead of the Ibrox club who in their most recent visit to the East End barely laid a glove on Celtic.
Again the media seem to have forgotten this already and would rather fill the back pages with the Albanian recent signing claiming he’s here for the treble.
Look how that turned out for Tavernier last season.
I’m sure I read in a previous post that the offices used as security had to be in good serviceable condition or something like that. I wonder if Close Bros have ever seen them, might be worth an inspection visit now that time is closing in.
Brendan admits a bloated squad – but this was his comment when he was appointed – but this is now his bloated squad 2 years later with 18 + signings ( and a few departures). Start dealing with it please Brendan.
Why has the cold shoulder not applied already? The ToP know he’s stringing them along so why give him this leeway?
Should The Lying King win this case then the ToP can pack up and go home as it will be proven they are toothless.
Phil; yes, the January transfer window should be interesting, but will it be?
If club really means business, then they should be ready to move at first light on opening day and make the necessary moves. However, history tells me that we will probably be waiting until the last hours/minutes of the last day of the window to see if anything breaks. Hope I am wrong.
Lots and lots of money is what sg said earlier. A new price?
So finally there is an end in sight to King’s game of tig with the Takeover Panel.
However as the media has frequently reminded us it’s King that’s in the dock and there will be no impact on the football club itself.
Really, or is that just wishful thinking?
Surely if King is forced to comply by making the offer for the shares then there will be less money available to invest in the club, or is that too much of a simplification?
Lord Nimmo Smith take note
class as always Phil
The style of play witbessed on Sunday gladdened this despondant heart, we absolutely punished St Johnstone.
Hopefully we can take a wee break and recuperate, internationals aside of course, come back to three difficult games and make some steady headway.
Feck King et all too, legally this horse is knackered