One of the primary consequences of our elimination from the Champions League this week is the dearth of equivalent competition between now and when it all gets a bit serious with Champions League qualifiers in August.
This is not to say we are going to win at Easter Road on Saturday, a reversal would not be a surprise, but on-form Hibernian are never going to prepare us for challenges in Europe. There is some value in games against Newco, who remain in the Europa League. They could have helped the cause more by remaining in the Scottish Cup long enough to face a proper challenge. As it is, we only have two games against them before September.
The demands which Brendan Rodgers recently referred to Arne Engels facing will drop. The need to rotate the squad diminishes, which results in fewer opportunities for fringe players to develop.
This is shaping up to be another historic season for Celtic, but being so far ahead in the league and out of Europe will affect also commercial revenue streams. It could be a long six months until the third week in August. First World problems, eh?
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Good afternoon.
dag nabbit
Celtic Pools doing a Henrik Larsson Book Promotion:
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por cierto
Hopefully Brendan Rogers gets a few quality players in the summer
“ We can’t afford to be complacent “
MN
Turn them over next month and we have a 16 point lead.
The likes of AJ, CCV and Calmac should then become “fringe” players or at least rotated frequently.
bizarre take Paul.
league and Sc to clinch. The business end of the season
I’m still in the ‘bloody hail we did well just to get where we got to ‘ camp. Back to the bread and butter of winning the league so we can have a go at qualifying for he CL again.
Rangers have had us sussed in the last two games – I think schlupp will help reverse that ( I rate GT, not having a go at him); Jota should provide game changing chances against them.
I could be well wrong but we feel better without kyogo.
Even if they continue to nullify us and beat us they will still drop points despite ref assisted wins.
Hopefully BR will stay for the challenge and learn to add to the current recruitment model which has brought us MOR, jota, kyogo, moussa, OE etc.
The tighten up your belts agenda – inflation is running wild, no money coming in now that we’re out of the CL. Brendan’s toys are too expensive. .
Down to our last £100M in the bank.
The Bean Counters CSC
I think this article raises a very real issue.
The team has been exposed to a far higher level of competition and has learned and adapted brilliantly.
Neural pathways fused and groupthink heightened type stuff.
The next half year’s schedule does not provide any apparent path to retain and enhance the above learnings and adaptations.
Or to parochialise ….
We’ll end up forgetting how to play good teams while busy rolling around in the mud with blood and snotters outfits.
HANKRAY @ 12:02 PM,
Well, that’s most certainly a valid point…
In fact, I had Prime Video through my daughter but have scarcely used it…
However, when I went to sign in, I could, but was asked to subscribe, so bit the bullet.
Spoke to my daughter who said – only last month I tidied up my Amazon Prime, when I realised I had it on twenty four devices!?
Could have canx you by mistake… sorry!!
First world problems eh!!
So, I buy a dozen things from Amazon a year (not including Kindle and Audible), I now get free delivery – woopy~doo.
My Discovery/TNT Sports comes through my EE account and I’ve bought the bullet and got a Premier Subscription again, again!!
Of course my Celtic TV Subscription is just part of paying my dues.
The big one for me was the Sky games…
Never, ever subscribed to Sky – yes my family has, yes I’ve lived in homes that did have it but me personally- NEVER.
However with Murdoch gone and the football available on Now TV another bullet has been bitten.
Is it crazy – absolutely, however I get most Celtic matches live or delayed live*
Much as I’ve no great love of Amazon, there coverage was great and customer focused.
Sky, Premier, TNT, BBC seem to have little regard or respect for their Celtic minded clientele.
Prime pulled all the stops out and Gabby Logan said on several occasions, Prime Video will have Tuesday’s top UCL match every time.
Yes, as far as Prime was concerned, last Tuesday the top game was Man City v Real Madrid, this week it was Bayern Munich v Celtic and they treated our Club accordingly.
Still, your point is 💯 valid, but Prime v Premier, is Celtic v Sevco reserves.
Hail Hail
*Getting good at avoiding the scores till tem pm on occasion.
Hail Hail
For how much Clement-time will Philippe be the darling of the 49ers?
In other bog roll
Rangers have received a £3.6m injection from their current owners in the form of a new share issue, but it is so far unclear whether the investment comes in the form of a cash injection or the conversion of debt into equity. (Football Insider)
unclear ?. could someone not lifted a phone and asked the question, or is the truth not welcome ?.
I smell ……
Surely the ability to rotate the squad and try out some youngsters is now enhanced rather than diminished? Players who have been overplayed can be properly rested and players who are carrying injuries like CCV can recuperate. Sinisalo could also now be given some games to get more experience.
Not having any more European football to look forward to as we approach March is hardly a new experience. But those who have tasted it over the last few weeks will know what is expected of them come September.
Good players will want to play. Minutes might be reduced but I cant see us taking our foot off the gas until the league is actually won.
‘….but being so far ahead in the league and out of Europe will affect also commercial revenue streams.’
How does that work Paul ?
We got/stayed further on in Europe than we have for years and harvested a Champs League cash windfall like almost never before, and sold our No1 striker for 10mill ahead of a crucial showdown match. And signed an extra x3 yr deal with Dafabet until 2027. Affect commercial revenue streams eh ??
And, as someone said, we’re still in the SC and the League to win.
What was that old quote ? Stay away from negative people; they have a problem for every solution.
ALBERTEINSTEIN CSC
Looks like the Sevco/US story is growing some legs this time.,
Obviously we can only focus on ourselves but if I were a Sevonite, I’d welcome some competence at board level – even if they can’t go out and spend millions immediately
Aye we need to watch the pennies fs.This plc board is rolling in money, much of which is generated from the ordinary supporter, so much it doesn’t know what to do with it, spare me the skint talk we aren’t and need to listen to BR for his squad needs. Guess a treble is not up your street Mr67 how complacent you have become. i’m glad we have football people who know what is important and not just a bunch of money grabbers but they are certainly within the club.
IMO Brendan will only sign an extension, if he’s backed in the summer transfer window
Out of interest, does anyone know if DD attended the game in Munich?
“I don’t care what they’ve said. I’ve just told you categorically, in front of the camera, when this interview finishes, I will show you an email where we are invited to go to Dallas Cowboys. The email came in three days ago.” (He never produced the email). – Charles Green
Deniabhoy
Sure i read somewhere yesterday he had. Never saw article as i was flirting in and out
of FRee wifi at Munich and CDG(paris) airports.
Can assure you he wasnt up in the Gods with me on Tuesday. Sure if he was there he was a bit more
comfortable than me.
Ground amazing from outside but facilities mainly toilets a disgrace OH and blocked all but one exit for us to leave reminded me of old away end at Swinecastle.
Hibs are no mugs, no smugness or complacency please.
kinglubo
Why is P67 obsessed with money all of a sudden?
JC2 – cheers, surprised to hear the facilities were not great there. Thought Germans would have everything at a much higher standard than our ground.
When our 6 months financials were released a few weeks ago, it was stated the next 6 months would not be as strong but all for obvious reasons and already planned for.
To dampen expectations.
!!Bada Bing!! on 20th February 2025 1:34 pm
“IMO Brendan will only sign an extension, if he’s backed in the summer transfer window”
Will the board think be, how can we back Brendan with his type of players on contracts rather than loan when he only has 1 year left?
If I were on the board I’d want him to commit longer and if that meant agreeing financial parameters for transfers/wages as part of that (flexible based on CL or Europa participation etc) as an agreement then fair enough.
From https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/february/10/celtic-plc-interim-report/
“The Club’s earnings profile and cash generation from trading is biased toward the first half of our financial year and we naturally expect a seasonal downturn in earnings in the second half of the year. This reflects the fact that receipts from European competition are largely recognised in the first half of the year, whereas the second half does not benefit from this. In addition, strong player trading gains in August 2024 were not replicated in January 2025. This seasonal profiling is entirely within expectations and our planning assumptions. Our outturn earnings can also be materially impacted by football success and the year-end assessment of player registration carrying values. Taking all of this into consideration, we would expect our total outturn financial performance for the year ending 30 June 2025 to be significantly lower than the result posted for the first six months of the financial year.”
Chairbhoy on 20th February 2025 12:27 pm
HANKRAY @ 12:02 PM,
_____
I thought the Prime coverage was brilliant. Great chat with the managers and Clarence after it. Couldn’t believe I was listening to shearer. Picture quality was brilliant also. We (the missus) has had prime for years (house is luke like a distribution centre 😁). Some decent tv shows on it also. That’s the frank sinatra viewing over for this year, back to watching Sydney devine. Hopefully, extra European games will continue.
As I keep saying,anyone who thinks BR will field weaker teams,or slacken off the pace,are clueless,and have not been watching,or listening.Loads to be done.BRs aim is to improve the players already there.Look at Engels,for example.Idah needs work.We have had very little chance to get any work done at Lennoxtown.This will be rectified.A historic Treble to be won,couple of Hun games.Supporters will not left wanting for entertainment.Not BRs way.
Deniabhoy @2.30 – that statement is pretty disingenuous and says nothing about a year-on-year comparison.
Some guidance on how the 6 months to June 2025 will look versus the 6 months to June 2024 is far more relevant.
jeez alive Brest were beaten 10 nil on aggregate – gotta be honest, that was my first thought when I heard bayern
Deniabhoy
Stadium looks absolutely stunning outside.
Sure it was only because of how they segregated us but at half time toilets were ten deep
people couldnt get away from urinals for people coming in me and one of my mates just turned around
and came back in 2nd half.
On way out the herded us all along corridor to one exit. One guy i was talking to said “see where all the police were standing every 50 yards or so that should be other exits”
Police were ok friendly etc but just coralled us down one set of stairs over crowed slippy and umpteen people fell.
I am 60 later this year so made sure i got hand rail.
Was at EUROS and thought all stadiums excellent sure this if it had been administered correctly would have been the same
BUT anyone exiting that ground would have had a 70/80’s Brockville Killie Tynecastle
experience.
BBC`s Reporting Scotland at Lunch-time had the 49ers buying the Huns as part of their Main News ( as opposed to just the Sports section) then, in the supermarket just after that, I saw that the DR had the story as front-page headlines.
Any truth in those stories?
HS – roll up, roll up for a trip in the time machine back to the Murray years. Get your (season) tickets here before they’re all gone.
I hear after their purchase by US investors we’ll be playing the 5088ers next year.