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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2- 4 for champions in waiting now
The Barry Bounce
From Jobo
*SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2024-25*
*RESULTS FROM GAME #44 CELTIC 5 ABERDEEN 1 (MAEDA(2), JOTA, McGREGOR, YANG)*
Good evening, friends.
When the team lines came out last night our starting 11 was what pretty much everyone was hoping for. The main surprise was that Greg Taylor didn’t even make the bench although we later learned that his wife had gone into labour and he was being excused. I cannot confirm the accuracy of the later news that when the baby was born and passed to Greg he tried to pass it back but unfortunately just gave it away…. To be fair to Taylor, he is still ahead of 18 other player’s in this season’s POTY table.
And so to the game itself. My own feeling was that we played pretty poor and lethargic yet still managed to score 5 goals. How we only conceded 1 is the bigger mystery especially given how we started in the opening 20 minutes. Aberdeen passed up a 2v2 after just 3 minutes and then in the 10th minute failed to capitalise on Kasper’s poor distribution that presented an attempt at an open goal.
Having failed to create any chance of note or look like scoring, the game tuned in the 25th minute. A decent move on our left saw the ball fall to Engels who attempted a through pass which spun off Tobers high into the air. Daizen Maeda – who else – was quickest to react and hammered the dropping ball home.
5 minutes later and we doubled our lead. Having been penned into our own area, the ball fell to Kuhn on the edge of our box and he played a fine pass into the breaking Jota. Jota tore through the middle at pace and having noticed Engels in loads of space on the right rolled a great pass across. Arne could have shot but instead returned a square ball to Jota who absolutely hammered it into the bottom corner. Well, when I say hammered I really mean that the ball only just bobbled across the line. But they all count.
Then, right on half time Celtic found a 3rd. Some nice short sharp passes between Hatate, Maeda and Engels saw the ball end up at our Captain and Calum rolled a beautiful pass into the far corner of the net.
The second half started with Celtic continuing to dominate and in the 59th minute Brendan made 3 changes, with Yang, Idah and McCowan replacing Kuhn, Jota and Hatate. And ultimately it was Yang who made the bigger impact, scoring a fine goal in the 72nd minute which involved a 1-2 with Engels then another with McCowan leaving Yang to fire home at the near post.
Aberdeen are the only team to have scored at Celtic Park in the league this season – our 2-2 draw back on 19th October. Celtic were trying to set a new record of 10 consecutive home league games without conceding but blew it in the 90th minute when some slack defending, particularly from Scales saw Kasper beaten from an effort which he should really have saved.
3 minutes later and Celtic had restored the 4 goal lead with the final goal of the game. Again Yang was involved playing a nice pass through to Johnston. Alastair looked across then delivered a fine low hard cross to the back post for Daizen to knock over the line.
Celtic’s march to the title continues to roll on and, as it stands at 8.55pm tonight, the 3 most likely ways for us to clinch it are…
PLAN A – if Killie hold on to their half time lead, win our next 4 games and the title is ours with 6 games remaining!
PLAN B – if Killie don’t hold on to their lead, win our next 5 games and the title is ours before the split; or
PLAN B – win 6 of the remaining 10 games.
We have now played 44 games this season, winning 31, drawing 8 and losing 5. We have scored 121 and conceded 39 (domestically it’s 106-22 and in Europe it’s 15-17).
Thank you so much to the 86 who voted this time around, much more like it my friends! The total votes cast for each player are as follows, with my own nominations asterisked.
Schmeichel: 0
Johnston: 19
Carter-Vickers: 16
Trusty: 0
Schlupp: 4
McGregor: 16
Engels*: 78
Hatate: 1
Kuhn: 0
Maeda*: 83
Jota*: 36
Yang: 4
Idah: 0
McCowan: 1
Scales: 0
Bonnar: 0
And so, the players receiving POINTS for the game against Aberdeen are –
Maeda – 5 points
Engels – 4 points
Jota – 3 points
Johnston – 2 points
Carter-Vickers and McGregor – 1 point each
And the overall positions after 44 games played are –
75 points – Maeda
58 points – Kuhn
56 points – Engels
52 points – McGregor
51 points – Schmeichel
48 points – Hatate
41 points – Bernardo, Scales
35 points – Johnston A
32 points – Trusty
29 points – McCowan
24 points – Carter-Vickers, Kyogo
21 points – Taylor
19 points – Valle
18 points – Jota
15 points – Idah
8 points – Schlupp
7 points – O’Riley, Yang
4 points – Forrest
3 points – Welsh
2 points – Murray
0 points – Bonnar, Cummings, Holm, Johnston M., Kenny, Nawrocki, Palma, Ralston, Turley
And here’s the latest goalscorers table.
25 – Maeda
18 – Kuhn
13 – Idah
12 – Kyogo
9 – Engels, McGregor
7 – Hatate
6 – McCowan
4 – Johnston A
3 – Bernardo, Jota, Scales, Yang
1 – Carter-Vickers, Ralston, Taylor, Trusty
2 Own Goals
Total Goals – 121
*FEBRUARY PLAYER OF THE MONTH*
Blah
The monthly award is based simply on the total votes received over that particular month. During February we had 8 games across 3 competitions. We had our 2 European ties against Bayern Munich, our home Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers and 5 league games, facing Dundee, Dundee United and Aberdeen at home and Motherwell and Hibs away.
In third place with 220 votes is Jota whilst the runner up on 225 was Arne Engels. But the clear winner, by an absolute landslide this month with 442 votes is Daizen Maeda.
Monthly winners –
August – Calum McGregor 184
September – Paulo Bernardo 173
October – Liam Scales 168
November – Nicola Kuhn 298
December – Kaspar Schmeichel 198
January – Arne Engels 225
February – Daizen Maeda 442
We are back on the road this weekend with a Saturday evening league game away to St Mirren, kick off 5.30pm.
Hail Hail!
Horrendous Kilmarnock.
But this lot will steamroller and bully their way against most teams.
Yes, I found it odd they couldn’t become more compact on their plastic pitch after going 2 up.
Looked off but CrayonTech rules it OK
Bankiebhoy 9.37
Honestly I hadn’t seen your post .
TT
It’s full on Walter.
As I said, when the future looks bleak, glorify the past👍
Couldn’t give a monkeys f@ck about the huns. They have made themselves a laughing stock with the appointment of delinquent neds to” manage” them.
I worry about us and our reputation going down the swanny. The GB are constantly embarrassing our club.
They issue statements as often as the huns change managers . Their apologies mean f@ ck all. They don’t care about anyone bar themselves.
Last night they had a choice. A tifo about a deceased Celtic player who played at the very top table in our European campaigns or a political statement.
Did our club know and condone this ?
HH.
I get it that some on here don’t seem to care about that lot.
Everything I dislike about them was in evidence tonight.
Those wanting that lot to stay in charge clearly never experienced the Walter years.
Brendan didn’t either. It’s going to be interesting to see how we face this challenge down….
It’s football Jim but not as we know it.
Greenpinata
I agree but I don’t know exactly what the club can do.
My own sense is a gamble for last few home games and ban them…… but it could backfire.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL @ 4:54 PM,
Looks like Bazza’s half-time ear-clipping worked.
Maybe Brendan needs to add that to his skill-set:)))))))
Hail Hail
TT
nae bother! I hope they keep him, he’s just secured thum the Wednesday Evening Kup!
:))))))
HHTT
B78 – nah, it’s more difficult for them to cheat this time.
One game at a time, but I can’t wait to dismantle them next month.
Didn’t watch the rugby at rugby park.
Staunch was it?
Had a look at our upcoming fixture list.
And it struck me … we win our next seven games?
We’re champions and cup finalists.
BTW – for anyone interested in outside bets here’s one.
Barry gets a UEFA touchline ban … but never, ever serves it.
Blogger GM
Fair point but you heard and saw the reaction tonight. Robertson gave Hagi the corner for their equaliser. In front of the baying hordes.
Folk who are smug about this and think it’s easy to combat have short memories.
Brendan’s defeat at Ibrox just before he left summed it up. Gerard seemed to have his team of ‘advisers’ around him.
I think it will be an interesting few weeks. I am glad we are 13 points clear. Others can display all the arrogance they want.
SPIDEY101 @ 9:31 PM,
Very good post, total agreement.
Engels gives us a first team ready player that can play against the best and be developed into an elite player.
VvD and Wanyama are the poster bhoys for the old “model” yet we can certainly make more money on Engels than we did on either of these two good/great players.
As far as 3mn is little risk, 11mn is a big risk, I’d disagree.
A 3mn unknown quantity is much higher risk than a 11mn sought after young player.
If a player gets to 21, 22, 23 and has yet to prove himself, chances are, he’s not going to.
Of course Matt O’Riley and Kuhn prove there are exceptions to this rule but they are certainly not lots of them and they are not easy to identify – data or no data.
Even then, as you say, how far can Matt and Nic go… certainly they are still on the fringes of their International teams while Engels is a Belgium squad player of repute.
Hail Hail
Was mcinnes interviewed after the game , was he saying sevco were some outfit and too good for killie . He wouldn’t hang about he would be having a sing song along with the sevco management
Oh by the way, the hun sang bout IRA more tonight than any in our support have in half a dozen games , but they weren’t being complimentary
AN TEARMANN on 26TH FEBRUARY 2025 9:34 PM
Majestic Hartson 9.04
Ah so it is yourself who is making the leap and speaking on behalf of all fans?
——
My apologies if I did, can you point out what i said on behalf of all fans and I’ll put my hand up.
How was the red card overturned in Hearts v St Mirren game?
Looking forward to scudding der Hun scum soon… by more than 7 – 1 this time ;-)
Bik McFarlane –
“Song For Marcella”
https://youtu.be/Dg1KpK0UyFY?si=cXHVIR_0YlokIW6T
Cos it was overturned BADABING.
Stop asking questions.
Wow, I’ve been sleeping. We have a player identification and development strategy?
Anyone know what it is and who’s responsible for it?
A more specific question. Where are our strategic replacements for central mid, both full backs, goalkeeper and centre forward? Surely any strategy would have this covered?
Has anyone got the video of bazzas half time bam talk and the lap of honour at rugby park haha. Good on the bhoys who won the bookies money at 2-0 Killie.
Good morning all from a -2 Garngad
We should not be banning any fans group as it is counter productive.
Regarding Der Hun, let them and their media succulent lamb lackies make as much noise about the return of the prodigal son as they like, whilst we quietly go about our business.
For wee bawwy baw bag it’s a new manager bounce out of the same shitty players, like polishing a TURD if you like.
We move onto St Midden on Saturday which will be a tough game.
Ps how many bigoted, sectarian songs were sung last night.
SHAME on our country for letting this happen.
UTTER SHAME.
D. :)
Taurangabhoy on 27th February 2025 4:36 am
Has anyone got the video of bazzas half time bam talk and the lap of honour at rugby park haha. Good on the bhoys who won the bookies money at 2-0 Killie.
…………………..
I was hoping for Kilmarnock to BEAT the Huns last night, they didnt but my DOUBLE Bet came UP !
Celtic to beat Aberdeen 5 – 1 on Tuesday …Correct Score ODDS were 20/1.
Kilmarnock to beat the Huns last night at ODDS of 11/2.
Obviously the 1st part of my DOUBLE was already up at 20/1, and when Kilmarnock went 2 – 0 up v the Huns…My Bookie ( BET365) PAID OUT on the Double with Kilmarnock being 11/2 before Kick Off.
So it was just over a 136/1 DOUBLE, by my reckoning……
NOT too shabby.
LOL.
HH.
Good morning CQN
Chilly out there … unless you’re part of the R2ngers sphere … in which case it is warm and glowing.
Pennies being counted out giddily for season ticket renewals no doubt.
Last night’s redult is being talked about all over Europe.
And to think …
… all these other so-called big clubs have wasted billions on long term strategies and hiring top talent with proven track records
When all you need are 3 monosyllabic foghorns and a mouthpiece who thinks he’s Aristotle.
Who knew?
I watched the whole of Killie v Huns game.
Kilmarnock were abshootley CRAP in the 2nd half, and that wasn’t rangers fault however,
At 2 – 1 up, the Ref CORRECTLY awarded Killie a Goal Kick…but then changed his mind and gave the Huns a Corner Kick which led to the Huns Dessers scoring with a very weak header which the Killie Goalie allowed to go thru his legs and over the line.
WHY did REF Don Robertson CHANGE his decision….it was NEVER a Corner Kick…More CHEATING from the Hun officials !
When the Huns went 3 – 2 up….Dessers ran into the Hun fans ( He was Yellow Carded) to madly celebrate.
The Hun players, staff and Fans celebrated as IF the Score Line will really matter, and as IF the SPL Title was on the line ? Did no one tell them that they are STILL 13 Points behind Celtic ?
HUN CHUMPS.
Wee Bazza took off the Hun player ” NSIALA” after Killie went two Goals up. This ” Player” has been ROTTEN in every game he has played….The DUGS in the street COULD SEE how bad he is in recent games, but STILL Wee Bazza played him from the start last night….but LO and BEHOLD….Wee BAZZA is being described as being ” VERY BRAVE” by the Pundits for making the decision to SUB ” NSIALA” so early ?
Funny enough, I dont remember CLEMENT being described as ” VERY BRAVE” when he took Off ” CANTWELL” in the 1st half of a Europa game ?
Wee Bazza MUST be a Fitba GENIUS…How did I miss that ? How did wee Bazza MISS ” NSIALA” being so POOR in recent Hun games, by selecting him last night ?
EVERY time a Killie game is on TV etc, the Pundits ALWAYS remark on the ” FANTASTIC JOB” that Derek McInnes is doing at Rugby Park….He was NOT ” FANTASTIC” last night however, as he watched his Killie Mob CRUMBLE from being Two Goals up against a CRAP Hun team.
McINNES snatched defeat from the Jaws of Victory !
HH.
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/hoople/
Easier one today – got it in 4
Hoople – got it – 3
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/26/trump-cabinet-elon-musk
Hmm.
He who pays the piper and all that.
Wee Bazza WAS wearing BROWN Shoes last night…I noticed it very quickly.
Were they BROGUES ?
I don’t know….PROBABLY ?
LOL.
I see to remember CLEMENT leading his Hun players on a few ” LAPS OF HONOUR” after games…when they won the League Cup at Hampden 1 – 0 and after DRAWING 3 – 3 with Celtic at Ipox as just Two examples.
How did that work oot for him ?
LOL
HH.
Joe 👍🏻
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-premiership/table
Decent spread.
Points gap between 1st & 2nd in the teens
Points gap between 2nd & 3rd in the teens
Points gap between 3rd and last in the teens
Personally, I think it’s good to see the big six in the top six.
Second to sixth clubs by size have largely underperformed this millennium.
Must do better.
For an example of maxing what you have?
Ross County fighting manfully for the retention of premier league status, now up to 9th.
Kilmarnock have slipped back down and must be hoping Dundee don’t find a way anytime soon to turn narrow defeats into narrow victories … otherwise they’re in trouble.
I’m lead to believe that there’s no random drug testing for players in Scotland, is that correct? Either way I’m sure there’s no drug testing for managers, looking at the highlights of the match in Kilmarnock and the touchline look of ‘the hills have eyes’ I think that drug testing is warranted