The Changing Men
Over the last 8 or 9 months the landscape of the Scottish fitbaw has changed both on and off the park with changes that even a decade ago would have seen them laughed at like Jade Goody. These changes go against what some call oor traditions, heritage and ethos of oor great club, which maybe in a way is correct but are these changes just a sign of the times.
Off the park the Jock McConnell bandwagon has stepped up a gear wie the banning of a number of travelling hoops for singing political tunes, something, allegedly, Mr O’Connell knows a thing or two aboot. Now the fact that this change has been widely welcomed by some and the fact that even the hardliners voice has been quieting doon recently shows a change in the thinking of the rank and file.
The board have been very quiet on this issue. Only statements praising the guid behaviour have been issued to a wider audience but at CP, I think, behind the scenes the board are working on a hidden agenda to rid CP of what they term undesirables- no not of the Boyd and Fergie type.
Heavy handed stewarding in recent home games and a rumour that only “Celtic”- how they define that will be an interesting- flags will be allowed in the ground. Depending on how they define “Celtic” flags then it could mean that the Irish tricolour that many supporters clubs- mines included- use as their banners could well find themselves outlawed.
Do the ethos, tradition; heritage and political stance of the club not sit nicely alongside the sharp suited men’s business plan? Does the fact that the support plays the Irish roots card more than a Scottish club card not sit well with them? Wonder DD thinks of this if it is the case.
Or do they know that oor support demographic has changed so much that these changes will get met with minimal resistance?
Maybe the diluting of the hardcore Celtic values over the years has attracted players to us from un-Celtic backgrounds. We now have three ex r*ngers players in oor 1st team squad and all have been afforded a guid reception.
Beattie was only a youth team player at the brox- one of the more highly rated ones- when the little general decided to go Dutch. A visit from TB and Wullie McStay convinced him and his r*nger loving family that CP was the best place to get one over on them.
Kenny Miller while only a bit part at Snake Mountain is another who has been received well by the support. Granted, he is not everyone’s cup of tea but his performances in the early part of his tic career made people see Kenny Miller as a player not Kenny Miller an ex r*nger.
The biggest one of all is big Elvis. Both parties wouldn’t have considered this move years ago. Again while there was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth it wasn’t over the fact he was an ex beastie. No it was all over his ability and oor ambition by the fact we were thinking of signing him.
All three of the above wouldn’t have considered signing for us in the 80’s or even the 90’s. Oor club has changed beyond recognition since those days. One big factor is the fact that we are now the biggest club in Scotland. Players look at their career and see CP as a great place to further it and make money no matter what their boyhood allegiances.
The fact that the above 3 have been welcomed by oor support will not deter any one from a r*ngers background signing for us. Hell, maybe that just shows that we follow the ethos of being an inclusive club. As when you think aboot it we have always had guys from a non- Celtic background in the team.
Our maybe the influx of ex-r*nger men just shows that the fitbaw world in the west of Scotland has changed so mach that us as a support will accept anyone to pull on the famous hooped jersey just as long as it brings prolonged success.
Could be a bit of both, oor support especially at home is split between glory hunters and old guard, I just know that when I started going to the old CP I never expected to see the day when 3 ex-r*nger players where playing for the hoops and one has captained us.
The times they have a changed.
Off the park the Jock McConnell bandwagon has stepped up a gear wie the banning of a number of travelling hoops for singing political tunes, something, allegedly, Mr O’Connell knows a thing or two aboot. Now the fact that this change has been widely welcomed by some and the fact that even the hardliners voice has been quieting doon recently shows a change in the thinking of the rank and file.
The board have been very quiet on this issue. Only statements praising the guid behaviour have been issued to a wider audience but at CP, I think, behind the scenes the board are working on a hidden agenda to rid CP of what they term undesirables- no not of the Boyd and Fergie type.
Heavy handed stewarding in recent home games and a rumour that only “Celtic”- how they define that will be an interesting- flags will be allowed in the ground. Depending on how they define “Celtic” flags then it could mean that the Irish tricolour that many supporters clubs- mines included- use as their banners could well find themselves outlawed.
Do the ethos, tradition; heritage and political stance of the club not sit nicely alongside the sharp suited men’s business plan? Does the fact that the support plays the Irish roots card more than a Scottish club card not sit well with them? Wonder DD thinks of this if it is the case.
Or do they know that oor support demographic has changed so much that these changes will get met with minimal resistance?
Maybe the diluting of the hardcore Celtic values over the years has attracted players to us from un-Celtic backgrounds. We now have three ex r*ngers players in oor 1st team squad and all have been afforded a guid reception.
Beattie was only a youth team player at the brox- one of the more highly rated ones- when the little general decided to go Dutch. A visit from TB and Wullie McStay convinced him and his r*nger loving family that CP was the best place to get one over on them.
Kenny Miller while only a bit part at Snake Mountain is another who has been received well by the support. Granted, he is not everyone’s cup of tea but his performances in the early part of his tic career made people see Kenny Miller as a player not Kenny Miller an ex r*nger.
The biggest one of all is big Elvis. Both parties wouldn’t have considered this move years ago. Again while there was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth it wasn’t over the fact he was an ex beastie. No it was all over his ability and oor ambition by the fact we were thinking of signing him.
All three of the above wouldn’t have considered signing for us in the 80’s or even the 90’s. Oor club has changed beyond recognition since those days. One big factor is the fact that we are now the biggest club in Scotland. Players look at their career and see CP as a great place to further it and make money no matter what their boyhood allegiances.
The fact that the above 3 have been welcomed by oor support will not deter any one from a r*ngers background signing for us. Hell, maybe that just shows that we follow the ethos of being an inclusive club. As when you think aboot it we have always had guys from a non- Celtic background in the team.
Our maybe the influx of ex-r*nger men just shows that the fitbaw world in the west of Scotland has changed so mach that us as a support will accept anyone to pull on the famous hooped jersey just as long as it brings prolonged success.
Could be a bit of both, oor support especially at home is split between glory hunters and old guard, I just know that when I started going to the old CP I never expected to see the day when 3 ex-r*nger players where playing for the hoops and one has captained us.
The times they have a changed.
posted by Keving at Wednesday, January 17, 2007
11 Comments:
good article, i agree that things have changed quite a bit.
we used to sign a lot of players who were rangers supporters as a kid but hadn't actually played for them when we moved in.
i must admit i never like most people, thought i would see big elvis in the hoops but was glad when we got him ahead of charlton as at spl level he is a strong centre-half with loads of experience and will be major influence in the dressing room.
reg your comment at bottom of last post, yes i am going to enter a team into the cqn 5 a-sides.
r u going to put in a team and we could maybe meet in the final or do u fancy playing for us?
it did enter my head but it didn't bother me one bit as long as the player coming in is willing to give their all for us which i think the 3 that u mentioned that are currently in the team do.
i never thought of a team name but lotw would be good. i will be able to get 5 no bother from the boys i play 7's with and if u fancy the super sub role that would be fine. (i want a henke type cameo appearance like the champions league final though mind when u come on haha)
if any other readers want to enter a team with u then thats cool as well and u can call yourself lotw and we will think of something else.
did u e-mail the guy, i sent an e-mail but haven't heard anything back.
would u be ok getting there are that time in the morning?
there is a lot of texts flying about today regarding the petrov rumour, have u heard anymore?
would u take him back, i would love to see him back in the hoops.
thats right i forgot about that rule now about players returning to same league but just look at webster so there is ways round about it although that is slightly different i know.
haha hopefully that is the case, although i might not put u on, u might be the adam virgo of my 5's team.
only kidding that should be good, then we can go for few pints before the hibs game.
i will phone u to organize it and to see wots happening about this party a week on sat.
see u soon mate.
Good topic.
I don't think it just the fact that somebody played for Rangers would make a difference one way or the other - although there are some you would NEVER consider - either because they are not good enough or because of their attitude or simply because they are too ugly. Alex Rae for example, typically falls into all 3 categories.
In gereral, it's not the players we really hate - it's R*ngers the institution and all it stands for that we hate. And so we instinctively hate any player or fan that embraces that institution and buys into the guff culture that goes with it (the flying pig come to mind for some reason).
I started following the Tic over forty yrs ago (a wee bit just before Big Jock arrived). As kids we knew that Celtic were different from them because we had Catholics & Proddies in our team but that didnae make a difference to us. We also knew that R*ngers was different... and so the hatred of that club was unavoidable.
I remember being at Alfie Conn's debut for Celtic and the whole place was chuffed to bits cos Big Jock had snatched this great player from their noses giving them a big 2-finger salute at the same time. Nobody really bothered that he had played for them - he had played all his best stuff for Spurs anyway.
So maybe things haven't changed as much as all that FOR US.
However are changing 'cos they're being forced/shamed into it.
What we want (and it was the same whan I was a kid) that Celtic has the best available players, who are committed and play football they way we think Celtic should be playing (benchmark Celtic late 60/early 70s) and making a positive impact in Europe (if not ze world) ... oh, and scoring bags of goals and winning lots of silverware.
Not much to ask is it?
PS
Sorry I can't make the 5's - I've got a contract withh JJB erm, I mean Wigan.
The news from Milan was disappointing. He is going to be out the country when the general sale starts on February 8th. Tickets on general sale can be bought throughout Italy from Banca Intesa.
Confused? Me too! I`m glad you booked. The cheapest on expedia for that time was the Roxy at £50 a night for a double.
What`s this about Scott Brown at Murray Park?
I see the bid for Lafferty was £5.5M short but it`s not too funny when you see what some players are being transferred for. :-)
£6 million, they are having a laugh aren't they.
it says on radio tonight james beattie was spotted in glasgow and mark brown ict keeper could be signing for celtic now that marshall is away until the summer but we know not to believe everything we hear.
sounds a bit strange to me.
the burnley managers point that lafferty was a full international while nugent who is 2 years older isn't is a lot of nonsense.
the main reason for that is lafferty comes from northern ireland and nugent comes from england who are the slightly harder of the two to get an international cap for.
if nugent was from northern ireland he would be a full international as well and would have been years ago.
mark brown is a good keeper, i just hope this doesn't mean king artur is leaving in the summer, hopefully not.
gow is definetley a rangers man, but i won't lose any sleep when he signs for them.
if any of u were a footballer and were given the chance would u play for rangers for the money.
i know i couldn't do it, not for all the money in the world.
i can't believe smith comes from a celtic supporting family, where did u hear that?
Well, Alfie Conn on R*ngers Tv wasn't going to his best years were at CPark ;0)
Well done Tommy Burns for doing the right thing !!!
Brown good back-up goalie and as you say, see if Marshall can make it week in week out. Personally, I think Arthur might be away in the summer, for megabucks mind you (but I hope not).
Just had a flash from the past there, after mentioning the bold Alfie and our pole in the goal.
I remember when he was with us, at that time there was a few folk clamering for us to to sign that winger Graham from Aberdeen (or was it Leeds) so that we could have a forward line of:
Athur, Conn and Doyle.
Oh well, last season we nearly had Lennon & Ono - imagine that !
haha very good sixtaeseven.
u are right regarding alfie conn, i think a swift cut and a 2nd take would have been called for if he had said his best days were with the mighty tic on that.
got sent a text tonite saying james beattie is at ross hall just now for a medical, i would be more than happy with that but again might be nonesense.
Nice one sixtaeseven! Would Rangers supporters understand that one?
Conn played well in flashes when he first arrived but he had lost quite a bit of weight while injured at Spurs and was literally lightweight/powderpuff!
James Beattie? If he`s not good enough for Everton should he be considered for the Hoops? (managers always believe that they can rescue careers!) :-)
Bring on the Paisley Saints!
Forza the Bhoys!
Smith's da sits in front of a guy i drink with at CP. His da is a season ticket holder and seemingly is noty to chuffed by his son's choice.......
Nice on sixtaeseven, nice one:-)
Seven- i would prepare for Arfur leaving as i think GS already is.....
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