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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McStay
Ah to slow :O)
Many apologies……..there are five…….question was thrown at me!
Aitken..brown..mcgrain……two to find.
0-0 HT.Dominating possession but creating little. Morgan biggest threat although Sinclair looking a lot more positive than last season, running at defenders. Compper also looks good as does the youngsters McInroy and Welsh. Probably a different 11 in second half.
Paul The Tim tweeting that John McGinn not happening.
Hail Hail
Just discovered the game by accident on Facebook. RTV regionalfernsehen are showing it. 2nd half just started. James Forrest on.
Scott Allan playing.
Wee Jamesie looking very good on the wing. We’ve just had a headed goal disallowed.
Celtic totally dominating. Passing the ball well and getting to the beeline on both sides of the pitch.
Who is `organising` the Malaga/Bon Accord do on Saturday?
JJ
T.O.S.B.
“..getting to the beeline on both sides of the pitch.”
Are we swarming all over them….I’ll hive some of that. :)
Hail Hail
Matt
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 27TH JUNE 2018 6:33 PM
Paul The Tim tweeting that John McGinn not happening
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RIP Etims if true.
Dan Doyle?
Bobby Evans?
1-0 Forrest
Jimmy 1-0
Great goal by wee Jamesie
Should earn him one more match before there are calls to drop him or sell him.
Paul Lambert
Craig Burley
Celtic making Vorwaerts go Backwaerts
Willie McStay
https://twitter.com/aztecgodstreams/status/1012033172530319360?s=12
Goal
Gamboa’s team should be about 3 up already. Very very unlucky.
The pitchside advertising in Austria features the local Remax dales rep. Obviously a Celtic supporter too.
https://global.remax.com/AgentProfile.aspx?AgentID=10038004
??⚽️
Bobby Evans! One to go!!!!!
Matt Stewart
“There’s a buzz about the place.” Copyright Paul McStay.?
CALTONTONGUES on 27TH JUNE 2018 6:16 PM
Why do we go to Austria ?? every year? Every year they’re kicking the shit out of us. I know it’s mainly youngsters tonight but, If Broony or Griffiths get injured????
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Maybe we go there to get the shit kicked out of us in order to prepare for another season in the Ess Pee Eff All?
:-)
Malaga/Bon Accord anyone?
JJ
Lost my feed in the final minute there. Did it finish 1:0?
Thought Sinclair did welk in the first half and Forrest, Allan, Henderson and Hayes were very good in the 2nd
Hot Smoked,
celticrollercoaster is yer man ?
HOT SMOKED
1pm Malaga and 3pm Bon Accord.
1-0 FT
1 -0 Brazil
1-0 Switzerland
Great goal Brazil
Not seen all the games….but these feckers could go all the way as thd teams I thought were up to it are ordinary.
Hope Belgium step up.
James Forrest FC, who widda funk it ?
Anywye……Oot.
Zzzzzzzzzz
Good run out for first pre-season game. Much to be encouraged about. Good cameos from Morgan, Christie, Commper, young right back (forgot name), Broony was Broony. And 2nd half Henderson, Ajer, Hendry, Hayes, Allan ( surprise), Forrest, KT – and best of all, imo, Kouassi was classy. Can’t fathom out why he doesn’t get (much) more game time. HH
Sorry to see Armstrong leaving. Squad IQ has taken a big hit.
Some folk at barbers last week saying Morgan will be going out on loan but this doesnt seem to make sense.
loving our new correct number of hoops top.
not so much uneven hoops socks.
gokwancsc