Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (19), joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City yesterday, following a tradition of City central defenders after Jason Denayer and Dedryck Boyata took the same route.
We have a settled first-choice on the right of central defence with Cameron Carter-Vickers, while on the left we vacillate between Liam Scales and Auston Trusty. Jahmai is right-footed, so it would be a surprise to see him dislodge Liam and Auston, he is more likely to deputise for Cameron – who needs a reliable backup.
With Liam, Auston and Hayato Inamura available for the left position, right side is covered by Cameron, Jahmai, Stephen Welsh (25). and Dane Murray (22). Seven is at least one central defender too many. Dane is in the last year of his contract and Brendan Rodgers is likely to spend the remainder of the month making a final decision on whether to allow him or Stephen (who has two years on his contract) to leave the club this month.
Playing our League Cup game against Falkirk on the Friday gives us extra recovery time before the first qualifier, five days later. In deciding to play Livingston at home, three days before the return leg, instead of exercising the option to postpone that game, Brendan clearly feels his squad will need gametime. Given that Sloven and Almaty will both have played twice as many competitive games as Celtic at that stage, it feels a good call.
Regular reminder: there are 13 days to add to our Champions League playoff squad and 25 days to add to our season squad. Getting it done right is more important than getting it done early. Fretting about our Coefficient Monkeys is not a good look. We spent £27m between 6 Aug 2024 and the end of that month. Try to remember how successful sides work.
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At last a good news story! Happy reading.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/36178174/buffalo-attack-killed-hunter-unprovoked-safari-firm/
saint stivs
August 6, 2025 3:04 pm
I struggle with the current narrative that DD has turned on both PL (who is sidelined according to some) and BR (by not backing his signings strategy),
What I really struggle with is that the $2.3 Billion (2,300 million dollars) and pricipal shareholder at 34% has to sign off on all spending over X, whatever x is.
That he micro-manages any LONGEST TERM OWNERSHIP of any of his business interests just doesnt seem right to me. Why bother Forbes live last week had him making $28m in one day trading period.
Couple of weeks ago the bloggers, with absolutely no insider knowledge posited that DD doesnt care enough about Celtic FC, then we are told he interferes too much, that PL is still doing his bidding, that the placemen on the board will vote for only his way, and now last few days, well he is interfering again, and blocking everyone including the Blessed Brendan, and the unblessed Peter, and Mickey the lawyer who he also appointed.
Again, why bother his ass if it interupts a game of golf ?
Aged 75, are we meant to believe he is fanatical about Celtic plc spending money at the millions level ?
His portfolio of business interests is expansive, diverse interests covers multiple sectors, to sell Celtic for mulit millions profit (if we ever get to the fabled land why bother, you cant take it with you, and if indeed Ross is the succesor, wouldnt he have the say.
If it is ego and all about the deal, nad he gets as much pleasure in chisseling a few million off the price, like me at the penny falls, again why bother, it is very Trading places.
Billionaire wins a dollar on a bet.
Now what I will say, lots of businesses keep money, it is actually wrong when people quote “other businesses ” dont do that, but there is a point where they will invest. Buy a rival, do R&D, enter new markets, or give money back to shareholders, or indeed build things.
I have heard it said before and again by Tom Grant lately. Building new celtic park to this stage was just phase 1. Phase 2, the internal infrastructure works never got delivered.
The stadium does look tired, why the paining/cleaning reshresh cannt just do done if a bit of a head scratcher.
As is large internal footprint space not being used..
anyways, checks Forbes live, the great desmondo lost a million this morning, the ebeneezer duck will be closing the purse for celtic as we speak.
Dermot Desmond$2.3B
$1M (0.05%)
Real Time Net Worthas of 8/6/25
#1653 in the world today
ST STIVS
Agree 100% with your analysis of Viktoria PLZN last night. I watched with my brother-in-law and pal last night. We all agreed that they were the worst team we have ever seen at this stage of the competition. They put no pressure on the ball, lacked any kind of pace, were ponderous on the ball, indecisive, constantly caught in possession, gave Rangers loads of space and made Rangers (who played well and did everything well) look a much better team than they are. For the 3rd goal, Antman was sent away down the right wing. His marker was slow to follow but instead of trying to close him down or block his cross he ran inside to the penalty area allowing Antman acres of space to come inside and pick out Gassama who was totally unmarked to head the ball into the net. We thought that most SPFL Premiership teams would have beaten them last night.
As for Rangers, even taking into account the incompetence of Viktoria, I thought that Cameron, Antman and Gassama all played well. We need to see more of Antman against more competent left backs like Kieran Tierney before we can judge him. Gassama has shown that if he gets any space inside the box he will put the ball into the net. We need to make sure he doesn’t. Lyall Cameron was a good player at Fundee and from what I have seen of him against Motherwell and also last night, he looks as if he’ll be a good player for Rangers. I wouldn’t worry too much though about last night. Rangers won’t meet easier opposition this season. How they do against the likes of St. Mirren, Hibs and Aberdeen will provide us with better indicators of their progress.
Dundee
Kyogo left Celtic 190 days ago.
You and I know we shouldn’t rush to replace him
It’s more important that we get it right
Or blame Brendan or something
Saint Stivs …
“Billionaire wins a dollar on a bet”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
SIONNAIGH
That fair cheered me up. Good to see justice served.
For all Mr Desmond’s wealth and business acumen, why doesn’t he run Celtic with the first team as the beneficiary and priority of all this business experience, he wouldn’t run his hotels or anything else like this, if they required investement for growth and competitiveness, it would be planned and implemented we have loads of money in the bank mostly generated from the club’s supporters, use it for the benefit of the first team. The first team needs it now.
Hmm.
Worth repeating it think.
We had 2½ strikers at the start of January
Kyogo, Adam, Daizen was the half.
We’ve got 4 strikers now.
Adam, Shin, Johnny, Callum.
Because of the dearth of wingers we’ve temporarily lost Daizen as a ½ striker.
We do have capacity in the striker position
Whether we have the required capability? Different question and subjective to boot.
My simple solution to this?
Buy two wingers … which allows Brendan to reintroduce that missing ½ striker, Daizen.
If we do that, I suspect one of the current four strikers will move out of the first team squad.
How will two new wingers improve striker capability?
Spread the heavy load among more guys.
The two guys that scored 53 (!) goals between them last season will be fresher, sharper, better as a result of being rested more.
B”B
Buy is the issue, we aren’t doing it.
And I think we will sell yet, and not necessarily players we can afford to lose.
Idah was Kyogo’s replacement, it’s just not worked out as well as Brendan wanted .
We only play one striker so the backups get very little game time.
You don’t pay £9mill for a player to sit on the bench.
We’ll be trying to sign another £10mill range striker and then Idah will be out on loan or sold
The big difference from last year is that we have a qualifying round to play , that’s why I am concerned.
How successful sides work – like say Liverpool for example?
Maybe there are other successful sides out there who lowball and leave business until the last minute but can’t think of them off the top of my head – enlighten me please?
I think its extraordinary how some on here and the wider Celtic support are doing the SMSM job for them by rubbishing three of our signings from last season. They love and bring it up in every report or comment they can and those on here use it as a stick to beat BR with – you and they are doing all they can to belittle these guys, how must they feel with this omnipresent pressure cooker where both the press and your own “support” constantly question you?
Could they do better in their first season? There is always room for improvement but really did these guys play so poorly to justify the criticism? Each of them played every CL game for us last season, best CL campaign we have ever had, there was MOTM performances from both Trusty and Engels (twice i think?) in the CL and Idah scored 3 goals from 3 starts. They contributed 30+ goals and significant number of assists in the domestic season and yet we seem to be battering them individually and collectively and the manager that signed them – what the actual feck are we expecting and what are the numbers that would be considered acceptable to spare any new signing from the abuse thrown at these guys? Why do we give the SMSM oxygen they can use to unsettle us – it is bewildering.
Big Trusty has done OK – he hasn’t blown the doors off but i’m struggling to piece together the disaster of a season that has been painted. Last night Clyde had him as a “£6m fourth choice CB”? this is copy we have given them? Time to defend our bhoys not jump on the them – ffs guy lost a couple of headers and he’s a mug or “heel no doooo” – you know what if my centre forward wins a header I don’t blame the centre half of the opposition??
Engels? Started very well and was cruising as a very young man with a high price tag. Scored all but one pen and a couple of other goals too. Whips in a great corner, something we’ve not had for years and played well more often than not with plenty of good assists and some crackers and yet some have been all over him since the begining about the price tag. Now did he set the price tag or is there a matrix of numbers that has to be achieved depending on price paid? My view is he tailed off toward the end of the season and looked tired at times but overall a very positive and healthy start and showed great potential. So why the pile on? The press have loved it and stoke it at every opportunity and its clear the kid has been effected by it as he gets zero support from the stands. This guy has loads of ability and potential so support him.
Idah is a little disappointing – despite decent numbers. You feel like he has some great attributes but does know how to use them as his physique and speed are a major asset. He also doesn’t seem to have that natural striker instinct to be in the right place or to gamble going front or back. His numbers and contribution are significant especially when on loan and that most certainly should buy him some goodwill but seems that is not enough. A Celtic #9 does need to give us more and maybe he doesn’t have what we need long term but the level of criticism is OTT and adds fuel to our detractors. Of the three Trusty and Engels are first teamers and will improve, big Adam i’m not so sure.
Those who use these players as a means to get at BR are an embarrassment and frankly i struggle to understand how you seem to consider yourselves uber Celtic supports. They seem quite content to question and undermine Celtic players to get at the manager and even suggest that on that basis the club should not fund any rebuild with him at the helm – truly staggering.
Celtic has amazing potential but are so fractious and small minded it is unlikely we will ever reach our potential.
So where does the word that DD has fell out with Brendan. The narrative was that after Peter Lawwell had left the CEO position then Brendan became DD’s go to guy and that they spoke on the phone most days.
We knew that DD made all big decisions and had picked all the managers since MON but it is new that he is personally involved in the Transfers. Brendan mentioned him as being helpful in the transfers but why his micromanagement is involved in OKing every player is new to me. As is the fact that Brendan has had discussions with DD on an extended contract, not the Board but only Brendan.
Now we seem to be suggesting that DD has fallen out with Brendan and it is affecting incoming transfers. Is this because the extended contact discussions are not pleasing DD?
Is Brendan problem not with Nicolson and McKay but in fact with DD? Or should that be reversed in that DD’s problem is with Brendan and his non commitment?
itscalledthemalvinas
Loved the “unprovoked attack” part. Guy was armed to the teeth, hunting in a pen ffs
A difference between squad fillers and 1st team pick
just my own opinion, but I do often believe Paul Larkin has ins, better than the SMSM and Trinity Tims etc.
https://paullarkin74.substack.com/p/has-dermot-desmond-given-up
A bit more digging and it’s clear there’s been a breakdown at Celtic.
My understanding is there are six players lined up but Dermot Desmond has refused to sanction any of them. As I’ve said in a few articles, I’ve been told time and again that Desmond has already stood down Peter Lawwell and, by some accounts, the PR Department (I say department; there’s two of them) and therefore no briefing is going on at all.
https://paullarkin74.substack.com/p/only-celtic
SIONNAIGH
Aye I don’t know what that big bad Cape Buffalo was thinking of having the gall to ambush a “keen conservationist” .
Live by the sword,Die by the horns !
PamplonabullsCSC
Good afternoon all from the Brazen Head. Transfer window be damned, I’m having a great time. The hun are shite.
The current situation reminds me of the old Aesopp fable of the tortoise and the hare. Yeah, we all know the story but I suggest Celtic is the hare, who, when far ahead, stopped and fell asleep, only for the tortoise to creep past and win.
Reckon too with Jota being out, we should consider a loan for a good winger for a season, that , to me anyway, would make good sense
KINGLubO
25 years ago MON arrived at Celtic Park. I remember how desperate I had been leaving Ibrox 3 months earlier after a 4-0 reversal. We had enjoyed a summer of succulent lamb and Ken Gallagher at his finest.
Despite Fergus and a 3/4 built new stadium had won just 7 leagues in a quarter of a century. That lot had won 12 of the last 14 and 14 over the 25 years previous. They had momentum and Murray spending tenners to our fives.
MON did great but at a cost. DD bailed us out but the tide was starting to turn. We won 3 out of 5 but overspent massively and the bail out was ultimately mostly at the owners expense. We tightened the belt while our rivals ego didn’t allow.
After Bratislava we won 3 from 4 despite a rightsized cost base. Our rivals profligacy, ego, arrogance and entitlement could not cope. The cardigan returned as did their spend. We took it on the chin.
Our jelly and ice cream came and we enjoyed it. Scotland was not a place for football for a bit though. It needed competition.
We kept on winning and BR came in and professionalised our first team approach. We won well domestically for 2 and half seasons. Lenny got us over the line and won again after the shower employment incident. Right / Wrong ? Ask DD.
Covid and we did it right while they broke the rules and were not held to account. Pure and simple. A bad season for many. Lots of mistakes and learning points for sure.
Ange was an inspired choice and delivered amazing performances after a tricky start. Sad he has burnt his boots. Credit for getting him here. I personally loved every week of it. 5/6 trophies.
Back to BR and now in his final year. 4/6 with 2 leagues. Another good return. We have a good base to build from.
So after 7 leagues in 25 years and 1 season of post Xmas European football we have had 19 leagues in 25 this past 1/4 century and we have beaten Man U Milan Liverpool Leipzig Lazio Barcelona Benfica Ajax and many more.
These are great Celtic times and no mistake. The over spending rival may make many envious of their 2 Europa Final runs. I am unsure 6 leagues in 25 years with 4 of them final day wins would suit me.
Many to thank for this :
Rebels, Fergus, KoK, John Keane, DD, MON, Brian Quinn, PL, WGS, Naka, Broony, NL, BR, Ange, Cal and the support.
Let’s hope arrogance, entitlement, ego and personal agendas don’t enable a swift reversal as we saw in the early noughties.
Interesting to see the Birmingham City documentary on Amazon re change of ownership and culture. Rangers seem to be trying to do in 12 days what it took ‘Blues’ American leadership 12 months to do. ‘Get rid of those used to a losing culture’.
Let’s hope our team from owners to exec to management to players to fans have the energy and alignment and guts for the challenge.
Dessybhoy
Ref DD
Celtic operates in a rigged market. There is a glass ceiling sadly for clubs in our kind of league. A tv market of 5 million is not enough. DD CT and other followed their money in the MON era which cost them at the last issue. They focused on a strategy never to allow the club to have to do that again. Live within its means. That is what PL was tasked to deliver. Our rivals didn’t. The rest is history.
We have a strong club which has been winning well. As with all businesses the goal posts and market moves. We need to make it move not follow is my only criticism of our leadership.
Paul67 et al
Just to let all those who those who attended OldTim’s memorial service in Graneragemouth, but were unable to attend the latter part of the funeral up on the hill that is Grandsable Cemetery (due to Storm Floris), know that
are we switching to a 3-5-2 ? our full backs are not comfortable playing inverted ? I’d be happy with that if we signed defensive mid and 2-3 forward players.
Seems Celtic strategy is to grab what develops in the coming days due to comings and goings! I think we’ll get 2 signings and marquee loan.
…..the burial did in fact take place Tuesday afternoon after a short service conducted by Peter Macdonald, who some of you might have met Monday. Thanks to all who made the effort, including Paul67 along with his father Martin42, and many others, much appreciated by Fiona who organised it all, and by the wider family, myself included. Davie made it to his final resting place.
RIP OldTim67
b78
I dont understand what you mean in your last 2 sentences, can you explain what you mean?
66mins almaty 0 slovan 0
Lefty
It’s looking like a slow boat to China. 😂
Still 0-0 in Almaty Slovan Bratislava down to 10 men.
3 bookings each. About 15 mins to go.
Brrb
Hope not.
We’ll see csc 🤣
Celtic Mac
Many thanks ref Monday. You organised a fitting and appropriate service for a really good person.
in.
Dessybhoy
My view is we should have been in the vanguard and leading for change in the structure of how leagues worked not just waiting for restructure.
Eg Should we align with Scandinavian countries or Wales Ireland etc or others for larger TV market and restructured market place. Or even wider and lead for pan continental change to help all large clubs in small leagues from being left behind in terms of TV appeal. Perhaps engaging with EFL in the noughties when the opportunity was there prior to their big tv deal etc. we had most to gain but it is only since PL is now at the European table they we really have a voice. It is only now we see a slightly wider CL EL and Con L suiting smaller countries a wee bit better.
B78
ok think that has long gone due to the expansion of UEFA’s group stages in all competitions.
Almaty 1 up v slovan
90 min pen