Just as a year ago, we lost the first game of the season against Newco, but the similarities end with the result. Celtic bossed the first half and created the better chances in an even second period. Goals change games and when Kyogo Furuhashi centred a cross for Odsonne Edouard, the game should have changed. Instead, Odsonne took his eye off the ball, which bounced off his heel and ran to safety.
One week ago today, despite scoring six against St Mirren, I urged Ange Postecoglou to play Kyogo through the middle, if necessary moving Odsonne to the left. He started Kyogo on the left yesterday and although Celtic enjoyed the bulk of possession, they were blunt in front of goal; Odsonne’s miss starkly demonstrating the point. It was a foreseeable error from Ange, which he later accepted.
Although Newco were unable to keep possession throughout the first half, at home, exclusively in front of their own fans, news of their demise was exaggerated. They survived the torrent when required and adjusted their game plan at halftime. From that point, Celtic were no more than equal in the contest until Kyogo moved into the middle on 70 minutes.
After Kygo shot from a tight angle, Ryan Christie reacted animatedly towards his teammate, presumably complaining that the Japanese striker did not square the ball for him to finish in front of goal.
I’m never keen on Celtic players shouting at each other and suspect this show of agitation contributed to Kyogo passing instead of shooting moments later, when the clear shot at goal was on. Our Imperious Icon could be forgiven for wondering why bother laying chances on a plate for others after Edouard’s earlier miss.
Just like the first goal we lost to Newco last season, yesterday’s goal was lost from a set piece but I’m not pressing the panic button on this one. Last year we were unable to form a straight defensive line, it was largely the central defenders who were causing the problems. The defenders were correctly marshalled yesterday, the goal was lost because none of the others picked up a late runner.
The transformation in Celtic in such a short period has been beyond any of our expectations. We will continue to improve and I expect will top the table after Newco’s visit on 2 January. In losing twice so early, however, we have put ourselves under unwelcome pressure. Playing the beautiful stuff is not always rewarded.
Last week they came after the Japanese, yesterday, they came after the Irish. Racism in Scotland is in spate, it was even given a police escort post-match in Glasgow yesterday. It is not the responsibility of Celtic to win so often that the mob have no opportunity to wreak havoc on the city.
Our political leaders and police cannot ignore this problem away. Scotland is home to many cultures, creeds and ethnicities. All will suffer unless the laws of the land are enforced.
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@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH AUGUST 2021 6:47 PM
“CEO’s the world over in are paid too much, as for McKay he has made a decent start we pay top dollar in salaries, and sign the best we can afford and don’t need loans or cheating.”
CEOs are overpaid, particularly in the USA. However, in the context of CEOs in European football, PL must have been the best paid in relative terms. Circa £3m on a turnover of £100m (For reference, Tim Cook of Apple got a whopping pay package in 2020, but it still only represented 0.09% of Apple’s turnover).
It is all the more galling when PL would start every AGM by talking about the difficult market we operate in and the need for financial prudence.
As for this – “sign the best we can afford” – not sure how you land on that. 2 of our 3 managers prior to Ange were Neil and Ronny – I refuse to believe they were the best we could manage. We signed Mulumbu with £40m in the bank.
Nearly every poster on here is backing Ange and the team to the hilt. The disparity arrives when discussing the Board – many are yet to be convinced that they are doing their utmost to make us the most successful club we can be.
We will see by the end of the window, but Balance Sheet FC may still be the order of the day.
P.s. agree that we do not cheat; albeit our Board may have cheated the shareholders on the issues of Res 12, 5WA and LNS.
Celtic40me……………
I really HOPE he is too…………………..
Really wanted him in the mix on sunday.
We need big lumps who are technically and mentally able.
The likes of Goldson got to do what he liked…….that has to stop.
BANKIEBHOY1
That was me who mentioned BR, he gave everything and hard as nails…………more talented players around but you have to have a little steel.Our midfield has the talent.
Tim………….
Ahh, thanks matey. I agree with you. I always liked Barry too – he seemed to really love playing for us – big smiles and maximum effort, especially against the currants.
Great minds CSC.
:)
HH
Lots of outlets reporting Eddy away for £15-20M to Palace.
£18.5M plus a 10% sell on fee some are saying.
With a year left, that is good money despite the PSG clause.
Friend in Torquay saying Bournemouth is awash with chat about Christie signing there tomorrow
Tim Bankie
The steel BR brought really got us over the line in that 07/8 campaign. Complemented Naka well.
@CELTIC40ME on 30TH AUGUST 2021 9:03 PM
Thanks for the reply.
“Not for the greater part of the game yesterday, or at home against AZ. And we did enough in 2 out of those three games against the best team we’ve faced so far.”
I would argue it was. Our good play came from the back 5 and Calmac, with the ball making its way out to the wingers. The combinations of Turnbull, Rogic and Christie (v Sevco only) proved ineffective during each game.
“If we’re insisting on signing the sort of players we want to see instead of what the manager wants so we can play the way he wants aren’t we just filing what the board are being accused of and not backing him?”
James McCarthy is not a technical player – his stats prove as much. He keeps it simple and has a physical presence.
Im not saying he isn’t an Ange signing, but Ange has not prioritised signing midfielders yet – it was the one are we had some quality and a bit of cover, albeit not perfect, as has been shown in the last few games. It will be interesting to see who is brought in as a midfielder in due course and their profile as a player.
If McCarthy is an example, he has gone for some physical presence over skill etc.
good news on Edward – classy forward who never developed the physical side of his game. He will regret not developing that side of his game in Scotland when he gets flung around in England and into obscurity.
Thanks for the Ibrox goal, the panenka and the treble clincher!
Now onto a a proper striker who will attack each post , score headers , hold the ball up , link up and score goals !
Oh and a loan center half who can jump and bully strikers!
Barry Robson was a hero in that campaign but he was always a short term fix, albeit a fantastic one, and we got lucky as he was an immediate perfect fit. Are we happy to look at short term fixes? If so we have to get it right first time, and in 24 hours.
So glad Ange has 12 days after the window SLAMS shut to breathe and refocus.
Backroom to sort out as well as the integration of new recruits.
I still reckon it will be after the January window ( Japan etc ) before we see all of his targets delivered.
Still both happy and sad that Ed is going. I wish him well. He is a young lad who us had a bloody tough 2 years in a backwater country where until the past 6 weeks he has had no decent coaching since BR departed.
Happy that RC leaves as I don’t think his head is in it. He had been playing more like a team player for a few games but reverted to type with his playground football style again yesterday. Nice enough lad but better he moves on.
Excited to see how our man moulds and develops his new players. The job won’t be complete until end of Jan though I reckon.
For all Christie’s faults, we are losing a source of midfield energy from the squad – and that is much needed with AngeBall.
I don’t know much about the wee St J midfielder, but him, or another player with similar attributes (energetic, good tackler, committed, etc.) is definitely a (another) priority.
HH
BGFC
Rollingstone,
If you want a strong Celtic board the first person you get rid off is Bankier, then the snake Lawwell. Looking at what’s left ( apart from McKay ) there is not much worth keeping and that’s why our rapid fall came and the dragged out recovery. Too little , too late.
The Celtic board is incompetent and everyone of them is culpable; even the ticket office is using systems from 2008 I am reliably informed. Zero investment and overworked staff who face the fans ire. Lawwell done everything on the cheap and no pushback from the nodding ducks enjoying the perks and the liquid lunches.
The Board needs a total revamp and the hard of thinking need to be removed. Nothing changes until that happens.
ROLLING_STONE @ 9.23
The dugs in the street acknowledge that PL was overpaid like many other CEO’s, there’s no question.
He retired a very wealthy, if per chance an unhealthily troubled man on 30/06/2021? ( having your family firebombed for reasons yet unknown.)
The debate is moot, and yes, he may not have wanted to pay as much as BR would have, he was a tough negotiator and for example wouldn’t bow to the demands of others.
He acted in the clubs best interests at all times IMO. He got it wrong, but who didn’t in the times of Celtic.
Some of them, I’ve forgotten their names that couldn’t even get the club a sponsor, never mind consecutive record breaking shirt sponsorships
Terry Cassidy CSC
p.p.s
Res 12, 5WA and LNS.is a completely seperate argument, that doesn’t even address the bigger contention, that we played apparently Rangers yesterday
BurnleyBhoy………………..
I’ve reluctantly accepted that Eddy’s on his way……………………..
I never like to see talent leave Paradise…..but C’est la vie.
Ryan, I’d hoped would have seen the light with Big AP……………He’ll end up wealthier but happier, who knows?
I suspect he’ll find that the grass is never as green again…..
HH.
Looks like we will have a wad of cash for Eddy and Christie heading our way and only a day to spend it .
We may , if Dom and his operatives are on it , Have our items in the trolley and be heading for the checkouts before the store closes .
A couple of pleasant surprises would be nice .
@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH AUGUST 2021 9:20 PM
“Total = £20.28m
Big bucks for Celtic? yes I think so TV rights £2M if you win the league? Peanuts for Parkhead The rest is selling shirts and ST’s, there are no board members running away with millions of pounds or cheating disgruntled Celtic supporters that missed their vocations in business.”
Decent numbers, but surely has to be looked at in context?
We have taken in a reported £15m-£18m for Ajer, £3m for Klamala and funds for Hendry, Bayo, Elhamad and Shved. Frimpong was sold in January, albeit those funds may have been put towards running costs for the 6 months to year end.
In addition to that Eddie and Christie seem to be on their way out, with Eddie bringing in between £15m-£20m. Add to that, we have gotten rid of Broony, Ntcham and a plethora of expensive loan players, it looks like our wage bill will be smaller and we will have made a handsome profit from transfers. The likelihood is that we will have £10s millions in the bank again.
Given the above and the clear inadequacies in our squad, do you not think more could be done given the potential golden goose CL qualification by winning this league (over an above the usual incentives to stop in the bigots out of Govan)?
@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH AUGUST 2021 9:53 PM
Thanks for the reply.
Can’t agree that PL acted in the club’s best interests. I think in PL’s mind he was the main man at Celtic park. I doubt we will come to agreement here, so happy to leave it at that.
@ LUCKY CODY on 30TH AUGUST 2021 9:52 PM
I agree. We should see a clearing of house on the board over the next 12 months. To have NEDs serve 10+ years is poor corporate governance. There is clearly a staleness in the boardroom and a clear out needed.
GlenD……………..
I think The Support would welcome a nice BIG surprise or two………………….
Sky’s Anthony Joseph saying two out, two in tomorrow and that’s that.
Dominic McKay has sold the fans short if that’s the case.
Been quite happy with our transfer dealings so far but will be disappointed if Eduard and Christie leave and we only have the Greek striker and Jota in.
AN DÚN
Others saying more players possible.
Need to wait and see who becomes available.
I would expect a loan or two, bare minimum over and above the striker and winger.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 30TH AUGUST 2021 10:07 PM
Maybe that’s what they mean by ‘running the rule’ over players ;-)) Nothing below six foot two!
I would expect a defender, maybe a goalie on loan (depending if Barkas leaves).
There might even be a move for a Scottish league based signing or two.
Notthenetspendanawnoo
It hardly needs repeating but in the non-covid years we need to balance the books with profits from player trading. We need those profits to stop us from losing lots of lolly
We buy players with resale value in mind. Success on the park is primary, but without champions league football profit from player trading is vital for the financial well being of the club.
That’s in a normal year, in a year where covid affects revenues then it becomes even more important. We’re no different to every other football club on the planet.
Snake – I hope so too………….
We need to win the league we’re in and we should consider the potential around us too.
HH
ROLLING_STONE on 30TH AUGUST 2021 9:43 PM
There’s nothing from what we’ve seen so far, and from his reputation that suggests he wants strong physical midfielders ahead of technical players.
Likewise with defenders.
We lose something when we sacrifice guile for brawn in his system. I’d rather we see more of what helped us beat AZ than think about what how to stop the Huns at ibrox
Calum McGregor, David Turnbull & Tom Rogic cannot play together in an Ange team, we all know the reasons why. I’m with whoever said it would take the January window to see the midfield re-styled, hopefully, we can stay in touch till then. “Winter pitches away from home will not suit our type of football”, but I’m sure someone said that about BR’s teams as well and yet we won everything in front of us, por cierto.
BANKIEBHOY1
You need local steel sometimes to get the others into it.
I’m with Paul67
Continue improving, incorporate the new faces, keep faith in the manager through the indifferent results and I think we go top when we beat them in January.
@ CELTIC40ME on 30TH AUGUST 2021 10:22 PM
Neither Starfelt or McCarthy are renowned for their skill or ability on the ball.
Starfelt won a lot in the air and a lot of physical battles at Ibrox. In his early games for us, passing has been his weakness. The stats also play out for McCarthy.
I think Ange wants technical wingers and fully backs. We are signing a 6’1 Greek CF who does not look particularly technical, but that is counterbalanced by Kyogo.
Uncle Jimmy @ 6:58 pm
“James Dornans motion was excellent. I noted a few errors in Paul Sweeneys letter to the police.
Rangers2012 need to be part of the solution and I genuinely hope they do the right thing here.”
————————————-
What errors did you note in Paul Sweeney’s letter?
We’re very much different from most other football teams, what other club do you know that sits on £40m in the bank………..
Of course the privateers will try and whittle that amount down.
Big Dom said in one of his first interviews were in a very good position to take advantage of the current market, we’ve hardly exceeded the Frimpong money so far, Anthony Joseph works for Sky they have an agenda, not as bad as the BBC but not far off, I’d be surprised if he knows anything
Edouard £17M
Ajer £13.5M
Bayo £1.5M
Hendry £1.35M
Shved £1M
Frimpong £11.5M
Klimala £4M
Kouassi £1.35M
Elhamed £0.8M
Total – £53M
@ RC on 30TH AUGUST 2021 10:40 PM
We also got around £1m for leo hjelde
Ally Mc Can,would be a great signing for us.Skill,grit,energy,one of the main reasons for Saints success.Would be foolish to miss out on him.Has a big future ahead.Would let us release Calmac further forward as well.Hoping its a late surprise.
SFTB
The Paul Sweeney letter twice refers to ‘anti Catholic racism’ . I presume he means anti Irish racism.
Also refers to police routinely having body cams. I don’t believe they do, in Glasgow anyway
However, I’m grateful for any and all momentum on this one.