The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon where people remember things that are now not how they remember them. Examples include the Ford and KitKat logos and, for me, the really spooky “missing braces” of Jaws’ love interest in Moonraker. Theories abound and include parallel universes, time travel and the NWO messing with our heads. If the timeline has indeed been tampered with, or we have slid over into alternate dimensions of reality, the question is: How do we get back to our good old trusty timeline in the “safe” universe we all know? Or used to know? Or did we… Anyway, you would think from recent happenings – and non-happenings – in the twilight zone that is Scottish football that some time traveller or Hadron Collider boffin has managed to surf the quantum field and reset the universe(s). I am referring to the transfer window situation that seems to be a throwback to former years (in the old universe timeline) when Rangers spent money in the transfer market and Celtic, well, didn’t. Much. On paper it would appear that Celtic are in a much stronger position than their Old Firm counterparts to strengthen their player pool and outspend Rangers. However, much to the chagrin of Celtic fans and, it would appear from media interviews, the increasing frustration of their manager, the club’s transfer market activity is misfiring in a major way. Last night’s home leg draw against AEK Athens has worryingly imperilled the prospect of Champions League riches for a club that so depends upon them to keep the ship afloat. As my good friend Ninjaman points out regularly, Celtic operate on tight margins and a serious loss of revenue will very likely lead to serious downsizing at the club – not good news for Celtic fans as a resurgent Rangers are going about the business of closing the gap between the sides. Grumblings online are mounting and some fans are even pulling their “Lawwell Out” banners from the back of the cupboard. The Celtic board are known to be frugal and canny in their dealings. This is not a bad thing; however, if they are relying on the gap being maintained for one more season before they have to invest heavily, they may just live to regret it. And those Celtic fans who relentlessly tell Rangers supporters that they are too vigilant to let their own board overspend might have to ask themselves how long they are prepared to let them underspend. Personally, I didn’t see John McGinn as the player to take Celtic to another level in terms of European success. But his signing would undoubtedly have bolstered and strengthened Celtic on the domestic front. That Celtic failed to capture his signature and, by all accounts, showed little eagerness to do so, either means that Peter Lawwell will have to pull some rabbits out of hats very soon or see his name on a lot more banners in coming weeks. Meanwhile, Rangers fans are rejoicing that normal service appears to be returning to the galaxy.
Source: Bill McMurdo, Blog
Source: Bill McMurdo, Blog
