You remember the days we used to bang on about Asset Management? The Martin O’Neill was glorious but that team left with barely a dowry. Great players were kept on ever-increasing wages, some until they could scarcely run the length of themselves. Tales of John Hartson’s bleep test live in the memory!
This was unquestionable folly. Celtic lost money each season under Martin (and Gordon Strachan), debt rose ever-higher, while the background noise was an incessant call to spend more money. The early days of CQN saw demands to show the kind of ambition Sir David Murray did at Rangers, or for Dermot Desmond to donate cash, by some who had confused Celtic’s charitable ethos with being a charity case.
A successful trading strategy is crucial for any club to achieve its potential. Keep them on wages you can afford and sell them to a wealthier market when you cannot get them to extend their contract.
All of those great goals from Stuart Armstrong, the Cup Final equaliser, all those trophies he won, cost the club zero. Absolutely nothing. His transfer fee to Dundee United and entire wage bill was more than covered by the fee from Southampton. In fact, we made a profit, which is available for us to kick on with.
There were two alternatives:
Let him leave without compensation next year. Celtic would be busy looking for a replacement as Stuart’s agent would be shopping him around. And there would be no money to reinvest.
Or, break the wage structure to match what he can get in England. And even then, he might still fancy a the chance in England. There are some players worth breaking the wage structure for, but with all due respect to Stuart, you can only do it for an unequivocal first choice.
More important than the money, Celtic cannot stagnate. There are lots of reasons to feel good about our general domestic brilliance, but your football club regards itself as a Champions League operation. On that front, we have plenty of room for improvement.
Just as there are limits to our wage bill, there are practical limits to the squad size. We need to churn those on the fringes and try to replace them with players who will become un-droppable.
Best of luck at our benefactor-by-the-sea, Stuart. I hope you are a huge success.
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VFR and Tallybhoy
That you tube interview with Moses Odubajo is well worth a watch.
Fantastic attitude,born to play for Celtic
….Crerand–McNeill–Baxter…
It was Rapid Vienna btw…(broken leg)…
BSR
Magnificent.
Beezer
THE BATTERED BUNNET @ 1:26 PM,
“I’d hazard a guess that the model was ditched simultaneously with the club concluding that the EPL was just not going to happen.”
Yes, I believe it was…
Interestingly enough Desmond Dermot stated at the time that he was still confident of getting into the EPL however SDM said that was our (old firm’s) best chance gone – he predicted it wouldn’t happen.
Now both Clubs pulled in their horns…
Ironically, it was Rangers who reversed the trend and started spending again when Walt & Ally came back…
It seemed crazy to me then.
Of course it was a gamble, but it did have some sort of logic, while Celtic were doing austerity Rangers could buy the league and compete in Europe with a little help from the EBTs;)
The European money would fund the “gap”.
Of course Banking Austerity and a no nonsense regime in the HMRC put paid to that.
The rest as they say is history (2 for the price of 1;)
Hail Hail
Cumon Meheeho,
Greenpinata,
You think Ryan can get a game @ Celtic?
I think Celtic are going up a notch from before.
I hope he Shines as the mair Scots the Better in the Celtic team.
Scotland sizzles in heatwave
Definitely gutted that Stuart has treble cleft.
I’m hoping more of the Young ones push through now.
Mair KT POWAAAAAAH.
Taxi driver ( not VoguePunter ) says McGinn for Parkers
…Crerand–McNeill–Baxter…v England Hampden 1962
They said he couldn’t tackle but one moment stood out for me that game…
England broke away down the middle with Johnny Haynes only to be halted by a Baxter block tackle…you could actually hear it -boof- or -boom- whatever! I’m not very good at onomatopeia :-)
Btw…I, shamefully now, was one of those who was happy when he broke his leg…
Stuart was a good age for a fitba player- Actually he is still the same age as he always was.
A good age.
Petec moon howling CSC
HH
Petec,
No I don’t think Ryan Christie has a long term future with us. However I hope I am wrong.
I also don’t think John McGinn is the answer. I base this on what I have seen on the park and do not take into consideration who he is or where he comes from.
Again , if John signs I hope he proves me wrong.
Needless to say , I wish all players in the hoops well and they can be assured of my support
HH.
Sorry BSR
If you ask me any debate over the transfer of Stuart Armstrong is “Splitting Hairs”…( see what I did there ? LOL)
Okay…I know no one actually asked, but I’m just passing time til the Fitba starts on the Telly.
i see that so called “Hearts” Fan…Ewen Cameron has trolled/tweeted to that Burd Kim Karsidern, or whatever her name is ( What is she good at ?), after she posted a Pic saying WTP ( Apparently means whats the Problem or Point ?).
That Hun Chump Cameron tweeted back to her that she has missed out an “A”.
When he was on Setanta ( his phone in show on TV…I think ?)…he usually had Alan Rough with him. I phoned one night to make some point, and spoke to rough and thanked him for his good ( but brief) services with Celtic. Cameron suddenly squealed ” Thats right Roughy…I FORGOT you played with THEM”
Alan Rough thanked me, and then told the viewers that he played 12 or 13 ( I can’t remember the exact amount) games for Celtic, and never lost a game.
Cameron Chump !
HH
Petec…confusing pm and am? :-)
BSR
A reassuring thought. Our next Celtic Hairo might only be a shampoo and blow-dry away.
Greenpinata,
I think Celtic are looking at a much higher calibre for midfield. John would give Everything every minute. I might be wrong and he could become a Celtic Great.
Celtic should capitalise on MSM ‘Boyata interest by getting his signature on a new deal.
IMHO csc
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 27TH JUNE 2018 2:14 PM
Petec…confusing pm and am? :-)
—————–
Now that is subjective, depending on where he is. ??????????
weebobbycollins on 27th June 2018 2:14 pm
Petec…confusing pm and am? :-)
…………………..
Hey wbc, the light is almost Shetland like @ night.
I hope you are ready to rumble in this new Season.
Big Ed is the most mobile Striker…. Did I say Mobile? ;))
Wow
Great CQN Celts.
Fecking NJOI This
JUNGLE VIP on 27TH JUNE 2018 12:54 PM
“I have long argued that winning second spot… is actually harder than getting first”.
There’s a job waiting for you with level 5 :-)
Never forget this about me.
Praise the ALMIGHTY.
Let’s denigrate some of Celtic’s best ever servants and throw them under the Lawwell fiscal prudence bus and yes dont expect any charity from anything to do with Celtic except of course you lot; the supporters.
Moses Odubajo speaks well in that interview. My concern in signing him would be in regard to loyalty. Hull paid his wages for 18 months whilst he was unable to play. They have offered him a new contract, I don’t know if it is a good contract, but he has refused to re-sign. Would he be committed to Celtic? Or ready to jump if another team turned his head?
I am sure part of the reasonTom Rogic signed on for the long haul (or at least to ensure Celtic get good money if he leaves) was that Celtic had backed him during his lengthy injury layoff.
Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but actions speak louder than words. The worth of a man is measured by what he does, not what he says.
?⚽️
bournesouprecipe on 27th June 2018 2:16 pm
Celtic should capitalise on MSM ‘Boyata interest by getting his signature on a new deal.
IMHO csc
………………………
Aidan has 120 coming his way if Belgium win it.
They are talking like Kompany is the player he was @ Celtic Park – LOL.
Pass through Parkhead Gates. Yeah OK.
Dedryck is Bigger than Vincent.
I Love this World.
It’s gonnae be mega now Nationalism is back on the Agenda.
f THE eu.
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 27TH JUNE 2018 2:25 PM
Lawwell and co. didnt come up the Clyde in a banana boat.
All risk will be considered when offering a contract, if it comes to that.
If club decide his potential is such that he is worth the risk then hes in the same boat as everyone else with 1 year left on their deal, 2 years, 3 years, whatever length of deal he gets. He establishes himself, proves his fitness and looks good in Europe then his he might have clubs looking at him for big money.
The question is how do we know now if he’s the next Craig Gordon or the next Steven Moyokoulo?
I think the market of young(ish) players who are coming back from serious injuries is worth looking at. Some gems there who have had terrible luck but clearly had the talent to reach a certain level.
Worth considering on a case by case basis.
HH
Moses has been to hell and back
He has been to Hull and back
But has he ever been to Mull and back?
Just read the Etim’s note on yesterday’s hearing
Even if the article is only half is correct, I would be concerned that the result is pre-ordained , ie, a stitch up
Why no article/comment on CQN?
tosb AND bcw…..
Celtic Legends just Let it go.
CQN LEGENDS……
Calm doon to a frenzy….. Not long to a hun skelping BTW.
Awe_Naw_No_Celtarella_Oan_Anaw_Noo
HH
Celtic Mac on 27th June 2018 2:42 pm
Moses has been to hell and back
He has been to Hull and back
But has he ever been to Mull and back?
………………..
Magical Rudi Vata
Petec
How much for a ‘bombscare’?
JIM BAXTER ???
My strongest memory re him is how ordinary he looked in the Ibrox leg of the European Cup Winners Cup Final @ 1961 .. My old man took me to that game to see the great Kurt Hamrin -he was great / on a different planet to Baxter . Fiorentina humped the Deady Bears 2-0 . .
Another meaningful memory from that game was the sight of legendary Deady Bears hardman ” Captain Cutlass ” Shearer being bullied by a bog standard Italian Number 9 called Luigi Milan
a few will likely have PETEC nonsense in their Dreams. Love is
Flag Day v Livvy is a 3pm ko
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/1011969638081728513?s=12
!!Bada Bing!! on 27th June 2018 2:53 pm
3pm on a Saturday, it’ll never catch on