August is a perilous time for predictions. Teams are still working on fitness, new arrivals are often learning the language, and until the window closes, players can still come and go, affecting the performance of anyone competing for the title.
That’s easy for us to say, though. Across the city, all they can see is the unstoppable Celtic machine grinding all before it on the way to four-in-a-row. I doubt our optimism, or Newco’s pessimism are a full reflection on the reality of where we are.
Celtic are by far the stronger side right now, but we have to prepare for a guaranteed eight Champions League games. Only three times in our history have we played as many games in a European competition proper. Do you think we have the bandwidth to cope with that load?
We have two strikers, one left back and the manager seems to trust only two central defenders. A lot could change between now and the turn of the year.
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CELTIC40ME @ 8:37 PM,
No enemies here…
Hail Hail
SFTB
Taylor was outmuscled by Sima for the Darnels disallowed goal in the SCF .
Neither he nor Sima were aware that Raskin had fouled Joe .
I like Taylor .
I actually think that Johnston is a weaker defender than GT .
He allows too many crosses to come into our box unchallenged .
In the last minutes of one of our European home. Matches last season ,he bombed forward ,didn’t get back and a header was scored from where he should have been .
I can’t remember the opponent ,but I do recall being at the match ,screaming out for him to stay in a defensive position ..
I also appreciate that we can’t afford Maldini ,Costacurta,and Maldini .
TT
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 20TH AUGUST 2024 8:44 PM
Personally, I don’t think Adam Idah would have fitted into the category of a 9m pound player until we paid that for him
Maybe we should pay that for everyone we buy to make Brendan happy?
CHAIRBHOY on 20TH AUGUST 2024 8:45 PM
An argument about an argument about an argument. Where will it all end?
Meanwhile in the real world
Bada
I doubt that either Matt or Reo would be joining us now. We got them when they were projects
BSR
Is Adam Idah the sort of player Brendan was referring to when he said we could sell them for £40m? Wasn’t that his point about £9m players?
Gene- not the point mate,to suggest that players won’t sign for Celtic is nonsense. Van Dijk, Wanyama……the list is endless, all down to scouting
CELTIC40ME @ 8:50 PM,
Yes – that would be your “real” world of course.
Hail Hail
For those looking to criticise GT .
You need look no further than the AM match at home .
For the AM first goal he is out muscled ,gets on the wrong side of the attacker and pulls him down for a penalty .
He is beaten in the air for an assist for a second goal which is chalked off for offside .
For their legal second goal ,he allows the cross to come in for Morata to equalise with a header in an area AJ could defend behind CCV .
Those highlighting GT’s weaknesses in Europe have a point in this match .
I repeat I like GT .
TT
https://x.com/celticended2iar/status/1825888905209450648?s=48&t=ABp7XzMNEkvwYy-0f8CHcg
https://x.com/MichaelMcCahi10/status/1825848226236244119?t=hp7mIciLrMzZ52iJslDXyw&s=19
CELTIC40ME
We gave him the platform and he stepped up
Pay the going rate is precisely where Celtic should be, regardless of our wee diddy league, which we now virtually own anyway.
There has to a loosening of bulging purse strings, to bring Celtic into European contention ( or closer to it ) for our £200 CL tickets.
Bada
I’m not saying players won’t join us – I’m saying that if we want CL ready players that’s a different matter
CHAIRBHOY on 20TH AUGUST 2024 8:57 PM
CELTIC40ME @ 8:50 PM,
Yes – that would be your “real” world of course.
We’re going deep now!
I meant “real” not virtual. Like our host, or the Celtic board, not you and me talking baws on someone else’s blog
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 20TH AUGUST 2024 9:01 PM
He still has a bit of stepping up to do to warrant a 9m price tag.
He’ll never be the 40m player Brendan suggests our 9m signings could be.
That isn’t a criticism of Idah, it’s just how things are
Gene- we won’t win the CL,we all know this,but we should be building a Squad to compete better. We are a EL team right now.Too many are quite happy to spend a pound more than the huns and win the League, end of their ambition. Copenhagen and PSV were 2nd in their Groups last season that tells me if you do things smarter, we can do much better. HH
There’s no lights on the Christmas tree Mama, they’re burning big louie tonight…..
When did we move on from absolutely needing to sign “quality experienced players” to absolutely needing to spend 9m on players we can sell for 40m?
When did our focus change?
It seems to be a tall order to expect our scouting department to be able to switch from finding players of cl quality and experience who will come to Celtic to several 9m players who will go on to sell for 40m
We’ve not been able to do either in the past, now we need to do both in the space of 12 months
CELTIC40ME
Well neither of us know
Just like we didnt know £1.5M MK Dons Matt O’Riley might fetch the guts of £30M
Canada’s Alistair Johnston named with Lionel Messi and other stars in Copa América best XI
Tom Nightingale @tdnightingale
3 weeks ago •
Alistair Johnston playing down the right flank behind Lionel Messi. Yeah, it’s safe to say we’re here for that. Get Miami to call him. We’d say get Celtic to call Leo, but Miami for Glasgow is quite the swap.
Canada defender Johnston has been named as the best right-back at Copa América this summer, making the team of the tournament.
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/spfl_killie_celtic_5845-1-1920×1634.jpg
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 20TH AUGUST 2024 9:33 PM
“Well neither of us know”
We don’t, and neither are we tasked with the difficult and very important job of trying to guess.
Sadly it was a long long time ago that we could sign the likes of VVD or Victor W. The gap is bigger as our league becomes even less competitive.
It Might Be Worth Going Over What The Manager Actually Did Say…
…“I think what supporters want from the club is two things. One, is your club well run? There’s no doubt here, the club is super well run, everything, organisation, very, very good. And two, supporters want to have the best team possible on the pitch. That allows them to skip back to each game really excited about watching the team.
“I always think that’s the challenge. And that’s our challenge, to get to the end of this window, to have the very best team that we possibly can have on the field. That’s what we want. That’s what supporters want. So hopefully we can do that. Well, I say hope – I want us to be able to do that.
“It’s the level of risk. You can sign a player for £1-2m, fine. And you might sell them for £10m. But you can sign a player for £7-8m, maybe sell them for £30-40m.
“It’s the same thing, you know. But it’s really trusting the process and trusting a team of people that can work very, very hard and then allowing you to get the players in.
“The Celtic supporters deserve enough of that. What they invest week in, week out to this team, worldwide, merchandise, everything. It’s a duty here for us to try and get the best team we possibly can on the field, to inspire them to come and watch the team.
“That’s what we try to do by the football that we play. But that will always be elevated by the level of player that you have. So, that’s our notion over these final weeks of the window, to try and look to have a really strong team.”
“If you spend £18 million and you spend it on nine players, I would hope there’s a possibility to spend £18 million on three players.
“Our model is to bring in young players to develop and improve. But you can bring young players in to develop and improve, but at a higher level. And then you know a little bit more of what you’re getting maybe, and there’s maybe a higher ceiling. I think we can do that. It’s just about getting the right player.”
“We need to improve that. The [recruitment] department and other people here, the people that are here are absolutely fantastic. The work they’ve put in over the course of the summer and going back over the months, being so diligent, covering many games, travelling out to games. So, I’ve done so much work on that front. But it’s still an area I think that we can review after the window and see where, like every area, every department, where we can improve it.
“The guys that have been here, they’ve worked ever so hard, going through the various options and availability of players to try and help us.”
“You can never win, can you? You don’t spend money. You do spend money. You spend too much.
“We’ve got a great deal. I know the player that we have here. And for me, it’s just a case of just getting him moving in the direction that I believe he can move in. He has all the talent. He’s 6ft 3ins, he’s quick, he’s strong, his touch is good.
“He can score goals. He has big moments and big games. So for me, there’s still areas that he can improve on, of course. And as a young player, that’s what you’d expect. But I really think that whatever money we paid for him, he’s worth every single penny of it – and he’ll demonstrate that in the next 24 months. He’ll be worth a lot more than that.”
“I’ll make it clear, I see them both as number one strikers. Kyogo has been absolutely brilliant and he has started off the season really, really well. But you can’t rely on someone who only played to the highest level, 55 to 60 games a season.
“I felt that I wanted another guy who I can call a number one striker. That’s what I feel I have. Just depending on the game, depending on the energy in the team, just depending on the circumstances of the match or the fixture list, then having those two is a big asset for us.”
Do we think that Brendan has accepted that the experienced quality won’t come?
Or have the screen monkeys worn him down and he’s now buying into the development model, albeit on his terms?
Or is both true?
Chairbhoy
“There’s no doubt here, the club is super well run,”
Do you agree? Super well run sounds pretty unequivocal
Bournesouprecipe
They were hardly in a line desperate for Idah.
I think we were the only show in town willing to pay that for him.
Most top rated players agents in that price bracket will consider other options rather than our pub league.
We may get the dregs at the end of a window but that will be it. Until we can show we are a proper pathway club.
CELTIC40ME @ 9:50 PM,
Yes, I’d certainly agree with that.
The strategic aims and objectives are being reviewed, enhanced.
Infrastructure projects on the go, advancing well.
If you have the fundamentals right, if the Club’s run well, then pushing on, striving for excellence across the Club is key
Hail Hail
Chairbhoy
Excellent that’s the interview 👍
If you spend £18 million and you spend it on nine players, I would hope there’s a possibility to spend £18 million on three players.
A clear reference to last summer and this.
Bada
PSV have sold 9 players for over 20m euros- we have sold only 2 at that price. They have sold over 25 players for over 10m Euros. Their record sales are 45, 42 and 35 m euros because the Dutch league is trusted as preparing players for the big leagues.
However when they sign players they haven’t gone above 15m Euros and only have 11 players where they paid more than 10m euros (including Sevco loanee Malik Tillman)
They also play serious competitive matches against Ajax, Feyenoord, Twente and occasional Surprise packets AZ.
We are trying to get closer to their transfer dealing level but we’re only at the catching up stage.
Copenhagen are closer to us in that their league does not attract big bids for players.Their most expensive sale was 15m euros to Lille last year. They only have 7 players sold for over 10m Euros. Because of that they spend even less than we do in buying players- 6m euros is their top buy (for a goalie from Liverpool) and they’ve only paid over 5m euros, four times. But like PSV, they have a competitive league with Bronby and Midtjylland challenging them.
You would have to conclude that having a competitive league was more important in preparing you for European football than is buying expensive bling.
Choirboy
For some one who doesn’t event support the club or go to matches I love the passion you have for saying how we can improve.
BURNLEY78 on 20TH AUGUST 2024 7:46 PM
Anyone wanting to see what will be needing to do to qualify next season for cl should watch the 2 games on TNT tonight. None of these 4 teams will be pushovers and 2 of them possible opponents in the draw next week.
——
I watched the bodo and red star match tonight. Two very average sides. Which isn’t that surprising given these sides had a turnover of €24 million and €18 million in their last financial year.
These are sides we have to be aiming to win against regularly in Europe. We’re seriously underperforming if these sides are beating us.
BSR @ 9:57 PM,
Yes… lays it out, clear as day…
We Need Throughput!!
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY on 20TH AUGUST 2024 9:57 PM
CELTIC40ME @ 9:50 PM,
Yes, I’d certainly agree with that.
The strategic aims and objectives are being reviewed, enhanced.
Infrastructure projects on the go, advancing well.”
Nothing to do with what we’re taking about.
Recruitment strategy. You were 100% behind the idea of signing experienced quality, Brendan seems to have doubled back and is now looking at spending our hard earned on development players like before, albeit at a different price
He doesnt seem to like your plan and he doesn’t seem to agree with you on how well run the club is
Is that a fair assessment?
Are we claiming the much maligned development model as Brendan’s now?
Is it not fair to say that what he’s suggesting is based on the same logic and strategy that has been trashed on here by some for a long time but on a different scale?
Burnley 78
There probably wasn’t a queue for Solanke either, and Ange paid £65M regardless
Sadly, your post highlights everything dinosauric about Celtic, where you look down on the club and champion the board.
“ The nobody else wanted them that’s why they’re at Celtic “ Brigade is hopefully on the way out.
Ironically, the accumulating wealth might bring about much needed culture change at Celtic not the old excuse of the opposite , – victims of our own success? Who would bemoan freshness of direction any direction, that didn’t always end with Celtic perennially selling our best player from underneath the 5 year contracts we dole out, with huge sell on percentages.
“There’s no doubt here, the club is super well run“
Yeah,1 left back…..
Greg Taylor, Kirk Broadfoot, etc, etc, were outstanding in the defence for Killie when Stevie Clarke was their manager who parked the bus and got them to 3rd in the SPL.
But when you remove the parked bus shape from the team that GT and KB are in then the spaces open up in front of them and they get attacked as opposed to GT and KB being in a team with all attacking spaces blocked off in front of them.
Stevie Clarke`s Killie team were like a web browser which blocks intrusive adverts, whereas other teams are like web browsers with vulnerable back doors.
I`d rather have a manager who would block the intrusive adverts and everybody using the web browser without ads would know were they stood and more importantly, what is expected of them.
How many crosses did GT put into the box as a Killie player?
None as far as I know, because he was a left back with a manager who instilled in GT exactly what his duties were, as a left back.
A real left back. Not a wing back. Not a half winger – half left back.
GT played at Killie under a manager who knew where to play GT and what protective shield to put in front of him.
GT comes to Celtic and he is expected [ by a lot of fans ] to be a mixture of Tom Boyd, and Andy Lynch.
GT is nowhere near these 2 players. At his best under Stevie Clarke, GT was a protected flat left back, or a sitting Left back.
GT is being fingered by fans who don`t realise that GT is weak as a Celtic left back because Celtic play with a left winger, and a deeper left winger.
Only time I can recall Celtic playing with a sitting left back, was by MON, in 2003 at Ibrox.
Ulrik Laursen was sitting-flat left back, and Jackie McNamara was sitting-flat right back.
At this time MON had gone over a calendar year and still hadn`t beaten McLeish as Hun manager, who had the Huns playing 4-3-3, just like Porto, who we would play in Seville in less than a month later.
We won 1-2 at Ibrox and it looked like we had found the solution that we`d need to defeat Porto.
Alas MON went back to 3-5-2 in Seville and it just didn`t make sense?
Huns and Porto were similar teams, diving cheating scum, who played in a 4-3-3 formation.
MON found the solution at Ibrox to crack McLeish which he could not do for over a calendar year, and then goes to Seville and forgets about the Ibrox solution?
GT looked good in a team who played different from Celtic, with a midfield bus parked in front of the sitting/flat back four at Killie which Brendan the 1st didn`t set the heather on fire against that Killie team either.
My immediate worry is that BR will play in a way where £9 million bhoy Adam Idah will be struggling with such a rigged manager, and will be made to look like yet another one of BR European donkey players through no fault of his own.
That`ll be 11 donkeys doing the same thing over and over, and watching it not working over and over.
And a manager [ European donkey? ] standing on the touchline, clapping like a seal looking for a fish, watching his plans not working over and over, and clapping for more of the same over and over?
BR is either and idiot, or he`s at it? You choose.
But anything, absolutely anything, could, and probably will happen at Celtic.
Whether that will be a good or bad thing who knows.
But remember, if the Huns need to return as a new club, again, Celtic PLC will play along as though it was none of their business, and 60,000 sickofants will just fall to their knees and keep throwing money at the corporate crooks.
Real Tims would be seen nowhere near this fake and crooked clown show.
Pretendy Tims will be all over it like a rash. Yuck!
Aye. Whit