We spoke a while back about clubs’ footballing identities. The Red Bull stable, City Football Group teams, as well as those using Jamestown Analytics have similar characteristics to each other (despite enormous differences in resources, on some occasions).
Even unsuccessful clubs can have consistent identities, think Manchester United, or Newco, who rinse and repeat the same plan year-after-year. While some clubs can be successful without a coherent identity – they simply buy better players then their opponents.
If Celtic are to maximise their potential, they need a clear identity and that should be to find and develop players like Callum Osmand (19). It is a crime against football that Callum had not seen a minute’s professional action until six days ago. It is a crime against Celtic that he sat on the bench against Kairat Almaty in August, alongside Johnny Kenny (22).
Callum and Johnny have a long way to go to develop into Champions League players. You and I know to expect that, at most, only one of them will make the cut. However, they were good enough to deliver in a crucial game on Sunday and might have done the same in August.
We signed Callum on 30 June. No deadline day dramas, no fighting off Ajax, just the recruitment department preparing throughout the season and getting approval from the manager to bring in an out-of-contract player.
Johnny has been a Celtic player since he was 18 and was sent out on three loans before happenchance left a space in the squad this term. Then an injury got him a shirt. Can we develop him into a better player? Probably, but at a point, we need to commit to a football identity consistent with doing so.
There is an expectation that Hearts’ league challenge will suffer when Celtic and Newco spend their greater resources in January. I am more concerned with whom Tony Bloom could bring to Edinburgh from Brighton or USG. Hearts remain outsiders this season, but the challenge is coming. For Celtic, Callum Osmand is the model. Get good at it, get a manager who pays more than lip-service to it, or prepare for some harsh times.
177 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
The Temple Bar near San Eugenio shopping centre should have it Ive watched games in there, music thereafter too, should be other in that area too
ChairBhoy
I sit with you regarding my opinion of Brendan. He gave us some of our greatest Hunskelping days as Celtic supporters. He laid the groundwork for Celtic becoming an unstoppable Treble winning juggernaut hoovering up trophy after trophy domestically. He restored our credibility in Europe last season and we enjoyed some great CL nights and performed very well in the League stage and games against Bayern. He didn’t follow that success up this season and it is indisputable that the Board failed to give him the support he required during the transfer window to enable him to do so. My own view is that he didn’t respond well to that lack of support and team performance suffered as a consequence. I can understand that it must be difficult to work for people who don’t trust you or you them.
I agree with you that Brendan has now left and as Celtic fans we should also move on and get right behind Martin, Shaun and the players who I believe will steady the ship and set us on the right path for the new manager who will hopefully take up his post after the League Cup Final but before the end of the year.
For those who feel that it is absolutely vital that we pursue the recruitment policy of buying projects, developing them and selling them for whopping profits then there can only be one standout candidate and that is Kjettil Knutsen of Bodo/Glimpt. He has been doing it for the last seven years at Bodo and is the best in the business at doing so. He will be available soon. He wanted the job when BR was appointed and if Dermott doesn’t do everything in his power to get him in then he is being absolutely derelict in his duty.
EKBhoy – I was over in Costa Adeje in July. There is an Irish Bar called the Irish Fiddler (AKA as Temple Bar) which showed all the pre-season friendlies and was full of people with the Hoops on.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g662606-d2369712-Reviews-Temple_Bar_Irish_Fiddler-Costa_Adeje_Adeje_Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html
Brown brogues don’t make it.
Frank Zappa, May 26th 1967.
Chris Davies continues to speak highly of Kyogo despite him not scoring in 13 games.
“He gets more chances than anyone. He’s so clever, his movement, his runs, he’s quick and I’ve said it before but they will go in.
“He’s growing in confidence. Despite the fact that he hasn’t scored tonight, I can tell in training he’s growing.
“He didn’t play a lot of football before he came in France. He’s building and he’s giving us a lot when he’s coming on.”
Despite his goalless run, Davies is adamant Kyogo will eventually deliver the goods.
He added: “Any striker is the same but Kyogo is very focussed and very professional. He understands. He’s also experienced and I’m sure he’s been here before.
“I would not be telling the truth if I said I was worried in any way about Kyogo because I’m not. He’s a really good player, we’re lucky to have him and he’s going to score goals.”
– – – – – – – – – –
In the great BR debate, I think he is the best example of a player who was left floundering due to the manager’s tactics. BR was on the record as saying he wanted Kyogo to come back deeper to be more involved in the build up play (the horseshoe passing as it has come to be known on here). Kyogo was the best in the country at playing off the shoulder of the last defender and at being on the end of quick crosses. It was his speed of thought, his anticipation of where to be that made him so dangerous.
I wonder if he started to agitate for a move because of how we was being asked to play and would have been happy to stay otherwise? If peak Kyogo had been playing on Sunday he would have scored 3-4 goals based on the chances that were being created.
Iwata got another man of the match at the weekend, maybe we can get them both back
Apropos nothing Mrs Quad – a non-Euro, non-club football follower until she met me and discovered her dormant love of the Hoops – piped up in the car over the long weekend: “A really interesting book would be John Kennedy’s book as he’s been there so long and survived so many managers and personnel…”
She’s right and it’s a tome that’d be worth a look.
Also if Shaun is true to his word when he says: “We’ve made slight changes in terms of anything tactical. I mean really slight” then I’d surmise that BR’s influence or system still dominates a lot of how our bhoys play.
Dessybhoy and Deniabhoy
Thanks for the steer guys.
HH
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2025 9:59 AM
Knutsen is a good call if he’d come, but I’d have a couple of reservations
How much if their success in Europe is based on the advantage they get from playing their home games in plastic in the arctic circle – they’ve won 28 of their last 34 home European games. They lost 5, drew 1 and won 1 last season away from home though.
I don’t know how true it is but the rumour is that he gets a cut of all the profits on player sales. He won’t get that at Celtic or any other club so hiw keenly her but into our trading model is a bit of an unknown
EKBHOY
I would go to the Irish Rover. A better Celtic Bar than the Irish Fiddler/Templebar IMO. Drink is a lot cheaper and two half’s for the price of one during the games. Also good Celtic songs by DJ before and after the game and during half time. It’s up the street from the Fiddler.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 5TH NOVEMBER 2025 9:57 AM
….
Re MOR in Ange’s last season he couldn’t score for toffee , it was in incredible the number of missed opportunities, he was constantly rushing shots etc. it was almost as bad as Carlos Starfelto conversion rate at corners 1 every 60 free headers !
Under Brendan , he was pulled infield about 10 yards and basically told not to rush forward but hold back anticipate the ball being squared back. The goal return and general play was excellent under Brendan.
To be fair to Brendan, the switch in positional play was a good one but it was fairly obvious that MoR messing about wide was a waste.
HH
Apparently Osmand has now been called up to EL squad in place of CCV. Turning out to be quite a few days for the young man.
Celtic40ME
I also believe he gets a percentage of each sale and realise he won’t get that with us. He wanted to come here when BR was appointed and he would have known that at the time. He more or less gave his job application recently to the Morwegian media.
Kjettil Knutsen:
“Reaching the Champions League was the last big target I had with Bodo and we have now achieved that.
“I have had seven great years with the club and it could be the right time for a new challenge when my current contract ends, I have always been honest and open about that.
“But I won’t just leave for the sake of it, it would have to be the right club and the right project for me, I won’t be swayed by a high salary or the bright lights of one the so called “big leagues”
“Ideally I would like a big club, with a big history but also a bright future, one with a high ceiling and high ambition to match that is competing for trophies and aiming to be in the Champions League.
“A club from that is happy with mid table or just to avoid relegation from a big league would not appeal to me.
“There has been many enquiries and interested parties over the years, so that is definitely something I will look at again in December before deciding on my future.
“I think the time would be right for a new challenge, but there won’t be any discussions over that until our Champions League adventure is over.” – Kjetil Knutsen 👀
The in demand Norwegian is believed to be high on Celtic’s wish list of new managers, and he could finally be ready to leave Norway in January…
Bodo are yet to win a CL game this season with 2 draws and a defeat from their first 3 games – so their campaign could already be over when his current contract expires on New Year’s Day.
He will no doubt have several offers on the table, but surely Celtic FC have to ask the question?
Morwegian? Norwegian ✅
Bellamy not interested
From the little I know of each of the potential candidates being bandied about, the two I think would be best for us are Knutsen or Hayen of Club Brugge.
Appointing either one would be a real statement of intent.
Craig Bellamy and Robbie Keane may, in time, prove to be attractive candidates but neither has a CV that comes close to matching the other two.
Just heard that Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of the Celtic job….
Got news for you Craig…you weren’t offered it…
inmartinwetrustCSC
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:00 AM
That does sound very much like he’s talking about us
“Hayen of Club Brugge” He’s being talked about for Liverpool if Slot doesn’t improve them, por cierto.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:00 AM
You could insert Celtic in many parts of that quote and it would definitely not be out of place, por cierto
Does sound like Kntson is talking about us. The timing would also be perfect. As for Robbie Keane. That would be one of the most divisive signings ever. Why would anyone do that
Kjettil Knutsen: Head Coach or Manager of Bodo? por cierto
Johnny and Callum both had great games more so Johnny, but, and it’s a big but, that Huns back 3 are not up to much are they? The real questions have still to be answered and perhaps Thursday will give us a few of them, por cierto
Por Cierto
To be honest I’m not sure if he’s Head Coach or Manager.
new article posted.