Last night Richie Sadlier was given one minute to explain why both PSG and RB Leipzig were unpopular clubs
He came up with a concise analysis:
“They are very unpopular for very understandable reasons,” he said.
“One way at looking at Leipzig from abroad is you look in and think: young manager, really energetic style of football, lovely story, they’ve come from nowhere in a very short period of time.
“But if you look at how they’ve done it, they’ve either side-stepped or trampled over the membership rules that are treated very seriously in German football.
“So, the importance of fans having a voice in the club, it’s not considered here.
“Everyone in Germany is wishing them failure, because you think: ‘If this does well, who’s going to follow them?’
“It’s basically a marketing strategy for a drinks brand, that’s what this club exists as.
“And PSG, far worse. They’re run by a regime, which faces allegations of anything from torturing journalists to imprisoning gay people and a host of other human rights abuses.
“So, if you approach a game and see the result as a validation or vindication of the behaviour of the owners or the club, maybe this is not the game for you.”
You can see it here.
Richie’s intelligent assessment on the two clubs did not go unnoticed on Fitba Twitter.
Of course, your humble correspondent was moved to respond to that observation.
An enduring theme on this site throughout the terminal stages of Rangers to the contemporary problems that beset the tribute act are the failures of the Fitba Fourth Estate.
Sadly, the chaps on the sports desks in Fair Caledonia cannot even grasp that you cannot walk back from liquidation.
If there were a functioning journalism in scrutinising Scottish football, then the Castore story would be…well…a story!
These unfortunate events fall on Sevco’s unsuspecting klanbase because they readily believe the feelgood pish that the sports desk hose them down with on a daily basis.
The Stenography Corps are under orders to maintain that everything in the Ibrox garden is rosy.
For the avoidance of doubt, it isn’t.
The Covid19 pandemic means that EVERY club in world football has taken a financial hit.
Check this about Borussia Dortmund.
Celtic, the wealthiest club in Scotland, are trimming their squad.
Age, wage, and injury profile is the criteria that are driving the readjustment at Parkhead.
The reports that Tom Rogic is off to Qatar should come as no surprise.
On his day he is a sublime talent.
However, his injuries often curtailed his availability.
Thanks for the memories, mate!
A well-placed source recently informed me that Neil Lennon was told to choose between Nir Bitton and Jozo Šimunović.
The financial reality was that he could not have both of them.
The Irishman made his decision.
However, if you were relying on the output from the Fitba Fourth Estate, then you could be forgiven for believing that there is one club that isn’t suffering from the pandemic downturn.
I suppose it’s a kind of magic.
In a parallel universe, there is a Scottish Richie Sadlier.
It would take him only one minute to explain why this eight-year-old club, just like the disgraced deceased predecessor, is so unpopular.
In that universe, there would be no need for your humble correspondent to take time away from the day job of finishing the next novel.
Stay safe and ignore award-winning idiots who tell you this pandemic is not the real deal.
Adh mór.
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Whilst agreeing with Mr.Sadlier’s observations and comments…my overall take on Football is…
It’s a game which attracts huge amounts of money world wide …and when that happens you will have corruption…shady practices …and Clubs putting money before their fans.
So yes…he was correct to point out these ” anomalies ” with the Clubs concerned…but its only the tip of the iceberg.
Oh…and sadly…it will never change.
Tom Rogic is just another in the long line of Celtic players who have twinkly feet…sublime skills…but ultimately fall short of being an automatic pick…for whatever reason.
I was never totally sold on Tom because there were too many games where he really influenced nothing and was invariably subbed.
Also if you are known as a player who’ll only give you a good 60 minutes…??
Well…. enough said about that.
Paddy McCourt is the most recent comparison in terms of outrageous skill I can think of…and he never made it with us long term either.
If he goes…I obviously wish him all the best and thank him for his efforts…but I won’t lose any sleep over it.
Hail hail
I enjoyed the 60 minutes Rogic played in the invincible treble Scottish Cup Final.
If that’s all we get from him then – wow!
Who else in the Celtic midfield can do that kind of thing as often as he does?
I’ll take a 60 minute Rogic every time.
Disnae work that way I’m afraid…
Although we have a certain player who disnae give us 60 minutes sometimes…but is usually picked anyway.
Anyway…its all about opinions…and I respect yours.
Hail hail
Respect, my friend.
Still have to disagree with you though.
Boring if we all agreed with each other.
Nice quote from Highlander.
Can’t believe so many Celtic fans are so happy to see Tom Rogic go and at a paltry £4million.
We should be pressuring the board and Neil Lennon to make sure he stays.
Isn’t he worth the ‘risk’ of another season to see how his fitness holds up?
And before anybody asks who would I leave out of the midfield for him my answer is simply – anyone!
He is the best we have. Who in the current midfield can do the things that Tom Rogic can do?
Impossible not to wish Rogic all the very best of luck.
He will go down in Celtic folklore as the man who delivered the INVINCITREBLE!!!
As Mr Spock would have said, “Live long and prosper Tom.”
You will ALWAYS be one of us.
Hear hear. Mind you, one benefit of him leaving will be we won’t have to listen to Packie Boner calling him Tom Rawjick again.
wrt RasenBallsport Leipzig, the membership rules aren’t treated seriously in Germany, least not by the football authorities, as they’ve allowed this abomination to occur.
With a ‘not Red Bull’ name and ‘not Red Bull’ insignia that fools no-one and shows that the SFA aren’t unique in their craven indulgences.
On the 50+1 membership rule, they used to have 9 members, all Red Bull employees, so its clearly in breach of the spirit of that rule but again the authorities do nothing.
That kinda sounds like sevco, with there logo “refresh” to try and scupper ashley, and their dwindling value of their fan ownership shares side club1872
Indeed, “Rasenballsport” (lawn, or grass ball sport) in German is one word, so they’re obviously at it.
Phil … it’s not just about having someone in the press/media who grasps the truth and wants to preach it. The whole establishment and culture of Rainjurz simply don’t allow criticism it highlighting the truth.
Michael Stewart knows the truth and has tried to broadcast it. He found to his peril as an ‘employee’ that this was intolerable and not only had to apologise but was suspended and seems to have much less exposure since upsetting the BBC Scotland top brass.
The very organisation that should be reporting honestly is wholly compliant it in both the continuation of the lie and the suppressing of the truth.
Shameful
There is something rotten at the core of Sevco, but no Media punter in good old Scotia would look at it.
The SFA and SPFL should hang their heads in shame, as for the Celtic hierarchy they have given them the nod in the belief it helps the coffers at Paradise.
The gullibillies sure love a good snake oil salesman. Roll up, roll up and geezawyermoney followed by watp is all it takes to have them diving into their pockets to back another loser. Same old, same old. HH
We should do everything in our power to keep Tom Rogic who is unequivocally the best midfielder in Scotland.
To be talking about a £4million fee is just ridiculously low for a man of his talent.
It would break my heart to see Rogic leave so let’s try one more year to see if we can get and keep him fit.
It’s not as if he will be worth any less in 12 months time.
The Wizard of Oz will be a sad loss, I love a player of his ilk and wish him an injury free, long and fruitful career. Like Naka I will be forever grateful for having had the privilege of watching him.
As for the forensic nature of the taking apart of RBL and PSG I’m sure we had someone of a similar stature on our sports desks and there was a massive shite taken en masse when he dared open his mouth with anything contrary. Michael Stewart.
Mores the pity