After collecting one point from their previous five games, Livingston fans can scarcely believe the result and performance their side recorded against Celtic yesterday. A goal from a breakaway on 25 minutes was enough to shatter Celtic’s early fluency. For all the flattery achieved by pounding opponents at Celtic Park, there is a fragility about Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Andrew Shinnie nipped in front of Stephen Welsh before thrashing a shot high into the net. The central defender should have done better but it was an excellent finish from Shinnie. The move started when Celtic were exposed on the right as Livingston won possession in the middle of the field.
The way we setup, we are going to concede chances and goals on the counter; going behind should not have had the consequences that followed. Instead of provoking a clinical reaction, Celtic’s early assured touch deserted them.
James McCarthy started his first game since May and is clearly well off pace. Mikey Johnston came on for his first appearance of any sort since May, he also needs time before we can expect anything like his best.
While central mid took much of the focus, our wing play was no better. Jota was significantly less effective against Livingston than against Betis on Thursday, and Liel Abada’s devastating runs into the box just didn’t happen. The only real pass mark was for Joe Hart, who made an instinctive save that prevented the home side doubling their lead.
We won on nine consecutive visits to Livingston between 2001 and 2007 before an 11-year gap until the next visit. Since returning to the West Lothian venue in 2018, we have played five, drawn three and lost twice. I am not fond of blaming the pitch; we have ample access to artificial pitches to practice on. Be ready next time.
So what now for our league challenge? News from Ibrox that Motherwell took a point to limit the damage of the afternoon was a merciful relief. A four-point gap is bad enough but six points would feel daunting. We are still in the race largely due to the fact that our only genuine opponents are well below the form they enjoyed in the two previous seasons. Whoever sorts out their form first will win the title.
Lots to consider, Ange.
362 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
Maybe it’s head in the sane, but I don’t understand the clamour for those who want / need to know who is responsible for signing players.
And if you know the answer to that, what can you do with that information. Whinge directly at a person rather than “the board”.
A bit like zonal marking, can’t blame an individual so the system is wrong.
I’m a simple man. I can’t change which players we have or which ones we play. So I don’t worry about it.
Players on the park are good enough to get a win against Livingston away. And so we’re previous Celtic teams who also didn’t win.
That’s the great thing about football, the favourite doesn’t always win.
sane = sand
we’re = were (but you all know that)
Saint Stivs,
Is this the same Brendan O’Hara who claimed circa quarter of a million GBP on expenses.?
One of the big 3 on the gravy train. ; for claiming expenses from the taxpayer that is.
VALE BHOY on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:26 AM
JHB
You forgot about Charity shops, bookies and Pawn shops
—-
So I did !
That will be the same guy aye, was any of his claims fraudulent ?
Excessive doesn’t have to be fraudulent.
JHB on 21st September 2021 10:23 am
“I make no cheap points” ,
What a complete arsehole you are.
Tell the truth, you care not a jot for Scotland its all about the union and your tory pals, maintain the status quo for the good of the union just like your pals the DUP.
Any updates on your posting analysis today?
SupperSutton,
If I can, then the clamour comes from a desire (from some) to have in place a football operation that can be the very best it can be. So, in this instance, a well-invested recruitment department scouting and buying players that align with the profile wanted by the manager.
What we seem to have, too often, is indulgent suits with no alignment, no football pedigree and a contempt that seems to send us available players (typically from England) who they think will keep us happy – think Hart, Duffy and McCarthy lately.
That’s an absolute waste of our limited money and resources.
That’s why it matters.
HH
SAINT STIVS on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:21 AM
The generation of Irish immigrants who founded Celtic were ‘Unionists’ so far as Scotland was concerned ie they wanted Scotland to remain in a political and economic Union with England and Wales and ‘Nationalists’ so far as Ireland was concerned ie wanted Ireland to be independent.
That is because they were perfectly well aware that Scotland and Ireland were not the same.
Something you can’t or won’t acknowledge.
You obviously carry a candle for this O’Hara politician, so can you point me in the direction of any criticism he has made about his Party’s Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.
Thank you.
CELTIC40ME @ 10:16 AM,
Well, I’m not sure I have the time just at the moment to put the required meat on dem bones – you know I do try to back up my comments with facts or examples or solidly conceived opinions;) quick thoughts…
1. Could you explain why they aren’t good, what’s caused it rather than a very basic explanation of why they aren’t better? Where has the loss occurred and how could it have been avoided
We had a high point a couple of years ago of over 100 million, we have dropped over 40%, that is, a colossal drop in earnings.
It was caused by lack of ambition and failure to invest in success when we were in a position of strength throughout the Club
2. Could you explain what the opposite of being harshly hit is and what we could or should have done to achieve an opposite outcome from a pandemic
Explain the opposite is something I’ll struggle with, don’t really understand that to be honest.
Let me give you an example though.
When the pandemic hit there was no leadership from Celtic, Lenny took the lead.
It was obvious that this was a role for a top quality COO.
Lenny’s press conferences were initially embarrassing as regards to Covid19.
At the time I said we should have a specialist take the lead in ensuring we were Covid compliant, this didn’t happen for many weeks.
Bolingoli episode was the manifestation of that.
Celtic like other football Clubs had special privelleges based on certain protocols.
Bolingoli and the whole squad should have been made aware of them and their responsibilities drummed into them. All stall should have been monitored to ensure compliance.
When the breach happened Lenny went tonto and drove a horse and cart through due process – the HR ghuys must have been having kittens. He said Bolingoli will never play for Celtic again before an internal inquiry has taken place – pure amateur stuff.
The Aberdeen Cheif made a profound and sincere apology for the players and Club breaches.
The Celtic Cheif hid and looked for a scape goat
3. When did the Ajax annual accounts for 2021 come out so we can compare the impact on them to us
Not sure, need to check but I think they won their league and are in the Champions League.
4 if it is a consistent down turn in turnover since your much mentioned BR could you sow us the numbers, and the consistent curve in a graph form
Yes, we’ll, I’ll give you the numbers, you’ll need to visualise or plot the graph yourself… My mentoring only goes so far, I have a life you know;)
Hail Hail
It’s only Tuesday and we’ve had ;
Balderdash
Thumbs Up CSC
Saint Stivs…thanks for posting that interview with Brendan O’Hara, I hadn’t seen it before. I worked with Brendan and his late brother Diarmid (standing behind Brendan in the ‘Graves’ photo) who sadly passed away last year. Two very fine Celtic men who were both very proud of their family involvement in Celtic’s beginnings.
turkeybhoy
One of the problems with having Army personnel driving ambulances in Scotland, is not their use per se, it is that they are, in some cases at least, replacing NHS paramedics-drivers who have been transferred to Covid 19 testing and to vaccination centres. Neither of these activities require a trained paramedic or an experienced ambulance driver, or any combination of both, and as such it is a gross waste of resources to take them away from their primary responsibility, which is, or should be, emergency first respondents, far more capable of making a professional judgement re patient care than a call handler. Not to say the NHS Ambulance service should not be supplemented by the Army, or the Police, or the Fire Service, or indeed anybody capable of driving that size of vehicle. Maybe Elizabeth R could help out.
These figures would be eye watering bad were it not for Frimpong and Adidas.
As it is, we’ve done good imo.
I expect others to post losses north of £25 million…
Due to the COVID with no fans in the stadium,the losses aren’t to bad so I can live with that ,Could I mention this without being called a hun,The Sevco fans ordinary tradesmen fans to there credit looking at their stadium with a lot off upgrading needed they have certainly done a good job ,can some of tradesmen Celtic Fans do a similar job which in my opinion needs a huge upgrade,because for what I’ve seen over the years Buchanan the Stadium manager isn’t up to his job ,or is the board of at our club more interested in the money in their pocket rather than the stadium?
GREENPINATA on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:30 AM
Guys,
Celtic are not immune from the economic crisis caused by Covid 19. Our figures could have been much worse. In fact given the circumstances they are better than I expected
—-
Yes indeed – and what of the Ibrox figures. Last year their t/o was £59m – £11m less than ours. We dropped 15% to £60m, therefore under the same trading conditions they probably did likewise down to £50m.
We returned a c£12 loss, which but for profit from player sales would have been well over £20m. Ibrox have no player sales, so if their figures are reported honestly, a loss of £25m must be on the cards. That would mean cumulative losses of £100m+ in 6/7 years.
Unlike them, we don’t have a line of well-heeled fans and directors queueing up to pump in £100m in exchange for confetti shares. Therefore we have to live within our means.
They will be “scratching their a***” over the next year, we have access to £16m in the bank, c£5m profit in summer window player-trading & an untouched £13m bank overdraft facility….around £34m up our sleeve to strengthen as need be.
On the field has been a disaster in comparison.
*******
Re the UK borrowing – you are correct to flag up the sums needed to counteract the pandemic being staggering – biggest since the war. Only a country with the large established world class economy and a long-established credit-worthy reputation can get access to these kind of funds in order to protect its population in times of emergency. It is a strength, not a weakness.
JHB on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:38 AM
I am loath to get involved but I have to ask you
You DO realise people who live in Scotland actually pay tax to the UK Treasury?
“/
“/r5
Just wrang.
CHAIRBHOY on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:51 AM
CELTIC40ME @ 10:16 AM,
Well, I’m not sure I have the time just at the moment to put the required meat on dem bones – you know I do try to back up my comments with facts or examples or solidly conceived opinions
But not comprehensive or accurate figures.
1. “We had a high point a couple of years ago of over 100 million, we have dropped over 40%, that is, a colossal drop in earnings.”
We’ve had one year over 100m, before we had 91, after, 83, then 70m in a season partially affected by COVID and 60m in a season fully affected by covid
Why don’t you adjust your numbers for a real-world issue like Covid.
“Also if you track the turnover from the Brendan Rodgers high point until now, you will see plot a consistent graph, circa 60 million was the direction of travel.” Not true.
“2. Could you explain what the opposite of being harshly hit is and what we could or should have done to achieve an opposite outcome from a pandemic
Explain the opposite is something I’ll struggle with, don’t really understand that to be honest.”
I was using your own words, maybe you could explain what you meant by this:
“No reason we should have been so harshly hit, the opposite in fact.”
What does the opposite of being harshly hit mean? What would that look like and how could it have been achieved? In financial terms?
“3. When did the Ajax annual accounts for 2021 come out so we can compare the impact on them to us
Not sure, need to check but I think they won their league and are in the Champions League.”
Stick to the point. We’re talking about comparative financial performance.
“4 if it is a consistent down turn in turnover since your much mentioned BR could you sow us the numbers, and the consistent curve in a graph form
Yes, we’ll, I’ll give you the numbers, you’ll need to visualise or plot the graph yourself… My mentoring only goes so far, I have a life you know;)“
It takes 2 minutes to do both. No cheating, adjust for the effect of covid
CM @ 10.55
Is that story true — we have been using ambulance drivers / paramedics to staff the testing centres and the vaccine effort?
And now as we return to some sort of normal the diminished ambulance service cannot cope?
I have not time or faith in Not Jacinda and the Nats but if true this is worse than I could have imagined. Low rent / low energy one club golfers who only have a focus for IndyRef2.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 10:52 AM
Poppycock will be along in a moment .
@ CELTIC40ME on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:19 AM
Covid clearly will have an effect on turnover in the last couple of seasons.
However, look at turnover since Tony Mowbrary for an indication of what BR did for the club.
We posted 3 circa £50m tuenovers (1 under Neil and 2 under RD).
We posted circa £70m under Mowbray, £60m in Nl’s 1st season of first stint and £50m in his 2nd season. Clear regression.
I’ve not even mentioned cash at bank but it was miniscule.
BR raised the level of football performance and the turnover followed.
BR was brought in as a fire fighter. As soon as the Board felt comfortable financially and confident that any old manager could best Stevie G, they jettisoned BR and got in ex Bolton and Hibs manager, NL.
It was a catastrophe and no one was held accountable. Apart from Dom McKay for his one big error.
TIMBHOY163 @ 11.06
The unseen fenian handyman? ( Thumbs up )
C40 @ 11.19
If we had played better football last season our financials would have been better.
The season ticket money held up well.
The Adidas contract delivered in spades.
Unfortunately the EuL money fell off a cliff due to NL’s footballing implosion.
Interesting to see the revenue figures from the TFOD2.1?
If they beat our numbers in two out of the three main areas then heads should roll at CP.
If we had a fully functioning football club with proper leadership and exec oversight we would have been very close to increasing our turnover — and all this with lower costs due to the lack of fans at CP.
PL lived off the fat that BR provided.
One got chased out the club.
The other stayed and took bigger bonuses.
All else is board propaganda.
And we have many on here ready to serve it up.
@ MADMITCH on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:31 AM
One point to add to the above.
You get €5m for getting to the knockout round of CL qualifying. Our faikure to do so in the last 3 seasons has cost us €15m.
The account don’t show lost revenue from anaemic football performances.
13/03/2020
Scottish soccer champions Celtic have announced a five-year kit partnership with German sportswear giant Adidas.
Starting from 1st July 2020, Adidas will serve as Celtic’s official kit supplier, covering both the men’s and women’s teams, in a deal which the club believe to be ‘the biggest kit sponsorship ever to be announced across Scottish sport’, although financial figures have not been disclosed.
The news confirms an end to the Bhoys’ deal with New Balance, signed in 2015 and reportedly worth as much as UK£30 million (US$37.7 million). Before that, the club held a technical deal with Nike.
Celtic 2018/19 revenue down 17.9% after missing out on Champions League
“This is a hugely significant new partnership for Celtic and our supporters and allows us to look to the future with confidence. To be able to create this fantastic new relationship demonstrates the strength and stability of the club and the power of our enduring story,” said Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s chief executive.
A statement from Adidas added: ‘Celtic’s successful football history and future ambition make us hugely excited to be working together to create a new chapter with one of the most famous football clubs in the world.
‘We are obsessed with helping athletes improve their game, life and world, and as such we look forward to supporting Celtic’s players on the pitch as they continue to create new levels of success, and we are confident their legendary fanbase will love our designs.’
On the pitch, Celtic are 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and remain on course for their ninth consecutive domestic league title.
The German sportswear giant will replace New Balance from July 2020.
Scottish soccer champions Celtic have announced a five-year kit partnership with German sportswear giant Adidas.
Stay up to date with the latest sports business news and insights
Enter your email address
Starting from 1st July 2020, Adidas will serve as Celtic’s official kit supplier, covering both the men’s and women’s teams, in a deal which the club believe to be ‘the biggest kit sponsorship ever to be announced across Scottish sport’, although financial figures have not been disclosed.
The news confirms an end to the Bhoys’ deal with New Balance, signed in 2015 and reportedly worth as much as UK£30 million (US$37.7 million). Before that, the club held a technical deal with Nike.
“This is a hugely significant new partnership for Celtic and our supporters and allows us to look to the future with confidence. To be able to create this fantastic new relationship demonstrates the strength and stability of the club and the power of our enduring story,” said Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s chief executive.
A statement from Adidas added: ‘Celtic’s successful football history and future ambition make us hugely excited to be working together to create a new chapter with one of the most famous football clubs in the world.
‘We are obsessed with helping athletes improve their game, life and world and as such we look forward to supporting Celtic’s players on the pitch as they continue to create new levels of success, and we are confident their legendary fanbase will love our designs.’
On the pitch, Celtic are 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and remain on course for their ninth consecutive domestic league title.
Castore CSC
JHB on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:12 AM
You had the Sevvies debt free after the end of last season. How can you expect to be taken seriously?
MADMITCH on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:31 AM
C40 @ 11.19
If we had played better football last season our financials would have been better.
*resists urge to be sarcastic*
C40 @ 11.44
Keep resisting …
Or better still put forward your thoughts.
How are things with Giakoumakis ?
ROLLING_STONE on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:28 AM
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this Brendan Rodgers effect.
At some point he’d have moved on and at some point we’d have had to do the same. Endlessly comparing our performance on and off the pitch serves its purpose for some I guess but its not very helpful when we’re assessing the financial performance of the club if we use a two and two thirds seasons managers reign as a benchmark of our performance over 17 years. its hardly representative.
St Brendan was one point better off than AP after 6 games in season three
Operating profit should be better due to Covid – matchday staff on furlough, no police charges, season tickets renewed. The Pass To Paradise couldn’t have cost too much. Surely we don’t make much from selling pies for 15 minutes before they run out?
Maybe we lost decent money from corporate box, catering?
Loads of Adidas gear sold
Player trading and wage levels of the new players over the last 2 years was reckless (especially when existing players were on less money and annoyed); nothing to do with Covid
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 21ST SEPTEMBER 2021 11:51 AM
How are things with Giakoumakis ?
———-
How much does he urn?🤦♂️