Yang had just turned 21 when he arrived at Celtic from Gangwon in South Korea in July 2023. He had made 62 starts in senior football but Celtic scouts had been on the case for months. Ange Postecoglou was of the opinion that if the club didn’t move that summer, we would miss the opportunity to take him.
The player’s portfolio was handed to Brendan Rodgers when he took control, just two weeks before Yang signed. It was a low-risk deal for a young player who would need to be developed, but whom the scouting team thought had huge potential.
Roll on 20 months and Yang has 10 Champions League appearances an assist against Bayern Munich under his belt and against Aberdeen last night provided more evidence of what happens when you craft a development path for a player.
A week after Yang arrived in Glasgow, Kwon Hyuk-gyu (then 22) followed. Kwon has yet to play for Celtic but enjoyed rave reviews on loan at St Mirren last season, and has done enough to impress at Hibs this term to bring himself into the South Korea squad. Korea are currently 23rd in the Fifa rankings, 22 places above Scotland.
Speaking last week, the South Korea manager told local press he had met Yang and Kwon on a recent trip to Europe and both were in his plans.
Marco Tillio, then 20, was another who arrived that summer and another who has yet to play for Celtic, apart from a 28-minute cameo in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell. He has continued his development on loan at Melbourne City and scored a peach in the Melbourne derby at the weekend.
A week after Kwon arrived, Gus Lagerbielke, then 23, came in from Elfsborg in Sweden. With substitute appearances, we have seen him 10 times in a Celtic shirt, including a win at Ibrox and a scoring win against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Others arrived that season. Some (Bernardo, Kuhn) are clear successes. Iwata moved on at breakeven cost, and found an environment at Birmingham which has allowed him to flourish. Louis Palma promised more than he delivered, is now on loan at Olympiacos and could eventually leave at a profit.
The development path has been closed to Odin Holm (20 when he joined but off to the MLS on loan this month) and Maik Nawrocki, who seems to have been given no roadmap.
The summer of 2023 was one of transition. It was setup for Ange Postecoglou by Mark Lawwell, before Brendan’s appointment. Brendan had little time to make assessments. He gave the green light to all who were signed, and brought in loanees Nat Phillips and then Adam Idah from his own network.
The recruitment of young players with elite potential and their subsequent development is where we have to be as a club. It is (genuinely) great to sign known quantities at their peak (Kieran), even if the reality does not match (Nat). It will help “Beat the Rangers” and fulfil all our short term aspirations, if that’s what your thing is. But you and me are not here for the short term.
How many elites will we get from signing players like Yang, Kuhn, Iwata, Bernardo, Kwon, Holm, Tillio, Palma and Nawrocki? Or put it another way, how many will we lose money on, not even serious money?
It is a low risk, high reward strategy. It beats the hell out of signing players in their mid-20s with no appreciable value to earn and in time, we should only get better at it. Clubs everywhere are doubling down on data, learning from others and making it harder to find inefficiencies in the market.
This season, only Viljami Sinisalo met this criteria. Arne is also a development prospect but of a different cost magnitude. How many elites will we get from Viljami? I feel good about Champions League qualification prospects in August and expect us to win the league. But the drift in strategy is a concern.
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STEPHBHOY1967
Do you honestly support all that IRA sh@@@te that the Green Brigade spout ???
Oh my days, back to this, the summer of 23 transfer window. The battle that P67 refuses to concede defeat on – like a Japanese soldier living on the hills of some island in the 1950s…
The new strategy is working. We’re successful domestically, successful in Europe and making record profits off the field. The idea that we go back to 2 million punts really is laughable pish.
Where is Mark Lawwell these days ? PSG ? Bayern Munich ? Or at home working on his garden ?
P.S A friendly reminder that Rafael Schiedt had 3 Brazilian caps to his name…
what banner was offensive and how so ?
The ‘low risk’ strategy seen us miss out on tens of millions as Cluj, Maribor, Malmo, Aek Athens & Ferenchavaros stopped us from qualifying for the CL.
Do Celtic authorise and condone all banners ?
If we take Matt O’Riley as being an example of a good financial signing, we need to consider his tenure.
Matt was here for 949 days (or 30.6 months or 2.6 years)
If we’re going to bring in development players and projects, what would be a reasonable time with the club?
If we were to have developed Matt for 12 months, we’d only have enjoyed his first team talents for 1.6 year. How many Champs league campaigns would this cover?
In amongst signing and developing, we need players to contribute and to gain appropriate top level experience.
A blended approach seems the correct one – as others have said. Otherwise, the team can never develop. Players will be sold as soon as they begin to blossom.
Its impossible to smuggle such banners in .
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 1:35 PM,
Yes, that’s a very interesting snap-shot, always hope the bhoys do well but Doak seems to me the only one that will make the requisite level.
Interesting that Daniel Cummings preferred to sign a pre-contract with West Ham rather than get promoted to Celtic first team.
Gave Johnny Kenny a chance, the bhoy could do well.
Think we have a player in Dane Murray.
Players we have loaned out on the pathway…
TOBI OLUWAYEMI GK
MATTHEW ANDERSON LB
LENNY AGBAIRE CH
ADAM MONTGOMERY LB/MF
BEN SUMMERS MF
Goid prospects- a guess as always…
Jude Bonnar as you said, got his debut last night.
Frame, Turley, McPherson, Ferns among them.
When Yang’s portfolio was handed to Brendan Rodgers, was that when he was boarding the plane to fly off to the summer training camp or was it when he was flying off to tour Japan!?
Hail Hail
GLENOWEN @ 2:01 PM,
Yes, very good point, unlike VvD, we convinced Matt to stay and sign an improved contract when the first offers were coming in.
At the summer of ’24 when a second wave of offers were coming in, we convinced him to stay until the right offer for him and the Club came in.
Atalanta offered 13mn then 15mn then 17mn…
He went to Brighton at the end of the window for 30mn euros, yet remains a Celtic supporter.
MO’R is a classic example of how development players can be handled.
Hail Hail
A lot of unfamiliar usernames are getting quite upset over a GB banner. I suppose they need something to talk about about besides football…
What did the GB banner say, couldn’t read it because I’m in the standing area 🫣
Saw nothing on the Internet.
Banner?
Couldn’t see it from my seat.
No one on the bus mentioned it.
Prestonpans Bhoys
The banner was a tribute to Oglach Brendan (BIK) McFarlane who was OC of the H Blocks after Bobby Sands went on hunger strike.
I was at the game last night and was sitting close to the Aberdeen supporters. I was disgusted at their behaviour during the tribute to Evan Williams. Even though it as a patchy performance it was great to silence them with a drubbing.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL @ 1:30 PM,
This time last year it was doom and gloom as R2ngers were going to win the league.
It was interesting how BR&CO concentrated on the hand kicked players, them and the January signings made up, what BR and Calmac referred to as “the group”.
It most certainly worked.
Hail Hail
Was he a terrorist or a freedom fighter?
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. In the Nationnalist areas of the North he is very much viewed as a hero and a key player in the peace process.
Sadly like making statements about referees more folk in here would prefer the rangers approach it seems.
Instant gratification.
Except for 25 years we have dominated them except for a few cheating years.
Weird that so many experts on here seem to think they are so much better equipped to deliver a strategy.
At no time did paul say we should not by some experience and some higher priced players. He just said we need a balance.
We do and we can afford it.
Folk asked why I am sometimes negative re our manager. This is exactly why.
If we carry on a s current we won’t have medium to long term success. It is simple.
See Wee Dick and David.
And btw full credit to Brendan and team for the Bayern performance.
bheaver on 26th February 2025 2:22 pm
Prestonpans Bhoys
Thanks of course he died this week.
I used to enjoy 118 because of the close proximity to the away support. Some of it could be really funny however other supporters were just arses and the sheep being a prime example.
At least we kept them locked in after the game, I would have opened the doors about 10 hours later!
a tribute to a celtic supporting musician who helped bring peace to northern ireland.
https://focus.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/thumbor/pFmk-CozE5HnGTSU3lzuyUrD3HY=/0x40:2048×1405/960×640/prod-mh-ireland/ec0c4779-0c43-42e2-b06b-e84f71aa8994/437ff8e8-c86a-4677-ba01-d0d351a26886/ec0c4779-0c43-42e2-b06b-e84f71aa8994.jpg
.
Unique Angle: Celtic v Aberdeen | Five-star Celts sink Dons to extend league lead (25/2/25)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htsgecFvDzY
I’m not at all concerned by this drift in strategy ghat Paul refers to,my memory of most recent transfer windows is that we usually come out making a decent profit,I would much rather Celtic spent that bit more on players which are less project more first team ready like Engels whom I’m pretty sure we will sell on for a tidy profit.More likely to have success than bargain basement project buys
Statements statements we don’t need no steenkin statements.
Communication with the support would be a good start, especially on key issues such as VAR,
“ teething troubles “ prices, ticketing. Surprised the Fan Forum didn’t ask for an update on the fan survey. The last we heard of that was Michael Nicholson hadn’t “ had time to look at it yet “ mind you that was only seven months ago.
Pressing ahead with fully digital ticketing, above inflation ST hikes, – good luck with that.
Players look very weary, easy to understand, so credit to them for sticking to the job.
Some look very tired and back to a game a week will definitely help them.
QUAD, Shirley you cant be serious
KINGLuBO
Stephbhoy67
Andrena is a fake moniker
Usually a taster for more rabid unionist multi monikers to come on
Best ignored.
HH
I usually feel a bit uncomfortable with some of the banners , but after seeing the response from DUP members in the media, then I know whose side I’d rather be on. Asking for it to be investigated under the terrorism act. They are deranged. 😂
BURNLEY78 @ 2:28 PM,
No need to speak down to good fholk on CQN.
You may be the smartest guys in the room but you don’t need a PHD to decipher what Paul67 is saying.
We had Peter Lawwell’s “moneyball” strategy introduced when Lenny Mk1 was here, he didn’t like it and he left.
Since then Celtic supporters seen the strategy at work for over a decade.
After Peter left as CEO, Ange and Dominic McKay modified it with a great success.
After Ange left we went back to feral moneyball with disastrous results.
It was very clear to most, that the recruitment had to “drift” to make it fit for purpose.
Micheal Nicholson’s approach does not stray from the stated strategy by the Chairman
…”Our successfully proven strategy has delivered stability and footballing success over many years and remains the same. We must balance the signing of players that can be developed and sold when conditions are optimal alongside the need to sign players who are able to make an immediate impact and deliver footballing success. The execution of this strategy is increasingly challenging owing to wage and transfer inflation, but this formula has underpinned both our footballing success and financial stability over a number of years now and it is vital that we adhere to it. – Peter Lawwell, 18 Sept 2023 — CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
The fact remains that Kuhn and Engels and Schmeichel fit the strategy.
Paul67 wants much more Kuhn’s and less Kasper’s.
Yet it’s proven you cannot put an effective squad together with that approach.
If we could get a replacement for MO’R for the 2.8mn Kuhn cost then great.
But if we need to pay 11mn for Engels, then so be it – he is still a development players, he can give us several seasons of top quality football before he moves on to a top team for double + the money.
It’s a win~win.
Hail Hail
That awkward moment when Barry Ferguson is worried about the “ lack of inconsistency “.
BSR…
Good job McCann and Doddsy are deep thinkers…
The strategy has not changed since Ange walked in and signed Kyogo, Starfelt, GG, JJ, Maeda and Hatate, CCV – all in their mid twenties.
Will wee BAZZA’s wages be paid directly into his wife’s bank account ?
LOL
HH
Weebobbycollins on 26th February 2025 3:36 pm
BSR…
Good job McCann and Doddsy are deep thinkers…
——————————————————-
Not forgetting ‘Yoda’ McGregor .
Dexter P Bampot
In your opinion it was a disgrace,and only yours.
The huns highlight their own many a time,we do not set our parameters by anything from that fanbase.People,innocent people get killed in war,thats what it was in 6 counties in the north of ireland,innocent catholics got slaughtered by death squad ran out of that pub,not to be confused with the many catholics slaughtered by Army/mi5 inspired death squads like kitsons commando’s slaughtering all before them up to Miami showband massacre under Robert Niarac
The apology from Celtic fans called the green brigade was for the hem of the ‘show israel the red card’ banner as it blocked veiwing from the upper tiers of the railing section.This and bother in Munich are the source of the apology.
Lets not call your ignorance and bias a spade as all you are doing is shovelling/stereotyping one side of the equation,that of the British State,a state,as more and more history shows gave genocide not only in ireland,but in India and africa and other parts of the empire during its reign of terror.i would say those Celtic fans who knew Bik McFarlane would commend his heroics as a fan,as a community activist in working towards the laying down of arms and buying into peace,a peace which is still being worked on daily but has changed the lives of folk from the 6 counties forever in a sustained and continual way.
Those admonishments and fines from a corrupt UEFA are easily met by the club,the interest on £70,000,000+ in the bank of our monies amply covers all.
There is no them(gb) and us with Celtic fans,there are only Celtic fans,we have always self managed.
It is a lot easier now to do so than say the mid 60 where you would be more likely to get conked by a flying bottle of pish on the head from our own(liverpool away cwc1966 and many others) support,it was early days then for the uefa gravy train to be fed,different time.
Celtic fans are a positive force,they have always sought out irish history to be supportive of.This has been the case since our earliest days of formation,if you read Brendan Sweeneys Celtic The early years you will read of many members in the the called Home Rule movement,Willie Maleys dad and Patrick Welsh,others that were involved in our background under your bias would be termed dodgy.
I agree they are no different from other Celtic fans,tho you seek to highlight them as different,some of those fans choose to show their gratitude to another Celtic fan who had a lasting impact on the social,economic and political future of a country whose routes we as a club were born out of.Ireland
Bik Mc Farlane rip.
Its just as well that Allan McGregor is ” The BRAINS” behind the Fab Four.
LOL
HH.
i feel the need to list our founders direct involvement in irish and british politics. coming
This from a report about Messi being fined by MLS
“Team-mate Luis Suarez has also been fined … after he pinched the back of opposing player Birk Risa’s neck”
Presumably he wasn’t hungry at the time.