Has this been our most successful transfer window ever?

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It is not like Celtic to have no one to parade on deadline day, just as it is not like Celtic to have us glowing with contentment at the business they did early in the window.  Reo Hatate (24), Daizen Maeda (24) and Yosuke Ideguchi (25) arrived from Japan, where today Daizen made a 68th minute appearance from the substitutes bench in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

Matt O’Riley (21) arrived from MK Dons, in the third tier of English football.  Matt has played one year of first team football, clearly a productive one.  His early Celtic performances reinforce the encouraging signs we heard from EFL watchers.  Johnny Kenny (18) arrived from Sligo Rovers as a development prospect.

Maeda scored within minutes of his debut, then watched Hatate steal the show and deservedly grab the Man of the Match award.  Ideguchi came on as a late sub against Hibs before being brutally injured at Alloa.  The early form of all three is encouraging, especially as they cope with living on a new continent, among new coaches and teammates.

We retained all first-choice players, with some on the fringes going out on loan.  The major disappointment was that none of our well-paid bench sitters left.  Has this been our most successful transfer window ever?  Stay tuned to find out.

All the noise in town yesterday came from across the city, where Newco acquired a midfielder who has made seven 90-minute league appearances since August 2017 (only one since going to Italy in 2019).   A friend suggested this was a classic Hail Mary move, although I’m sure that is not how they look at it at Ibrox.  Not all intercessions happen.

Later this month we face Raith Rovers in a Scottish Cup tie.  As things stand, they will field David Goodwillie, whom they signed last night.  Goodwillie was found to have raped a woman at a civil trial in 2017.  Fair play to Rovers fans for their overwhelming opposition to the signing.  They have a fight on their hands for the character of their club.

The Japan – Saudi Arabia game is due to finish around 12:10 UK time.  Hopefully by the time you finish reading this Daizen is in a taxi on his way to the airport.  There will be a good hour in his legs tomorrow night.

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288 Comments

  1. ERNIE LYNCH on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 3:16 PM

     

    BIG JIMMY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 3:14 PM

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Who are these posters?

     

    ……………..

     

     

    Yer aving a laugh…arent you ?

  2. Calum will be back.Put your lot on it.He knows what this game means.Maeda perfectly able to start.Have done this flight many times.Coming back,no problem.Its the going out that feks you.

  3. ONENIGHTINLISBON on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 3:55 PM

     

    Big game on tomorrow evening Ernie?

     

     

    ##

     

     

    Yep. Old Firm game. Hence my reference earlier to flights and airplanes.

  4. BIG JIMMY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 3:55 PM

     

     

    No. I was wondering who you consider to be the Tory posters.

     

     

    The only one I can recall (and I’m note sure he ever actually declared an allegiance, and if he did whether he was being serious) was Phylis(sp). I think he was before your time. Probably still holds the podium record. I always suspected some Ferris Bueller type shenanigans with that though.

  5. does “the scottish people” actually mean “people living in scotland and eligible to vote ?”

  6. ONENIGHTINLISBON on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:00 PM

     

     

    That’s the one. The Old Firm. An essential component of the board’s strategy. Distasteful I know, but what can you do? Business is business.

  7. the long wait is over on

    FRIESDORFER on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 12:59 PM

     

     

    “The Long Wait is Over

     

     

    I meant in terms of performance, they were both class acts, in my opinion of course.”

     

     

    =================

     

     

    Couldn’t agree more.

     

     

    What I’d give to have one or , Lordy, both lining up tomorrow night..!

     

     

    HH

  8. SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:02 PM

     

    ‘does “the scottish people” actually mean “people living in scotland and eligible to vote ?”’

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Well expats are definitely not allowed a vote. I think the idea is if you live here, you get a vote. Not to everyone’s taste I know. There’s those who’d restrict the vote to true Seeds of the Gael, but that would be tricky to enforce with all the DNA testing that would be required.

  9. so why didnt you say that ?

     

     

    between that and your old firm-isms your on a bit of a “borisser”

     

     

    as an aside, do ex-pats get to vote in a UK elections ?

  10. Ernie, can you point out to where Celtic PLC refer to “the old firm” as being a key component to performance of the Company ?

     

    I cant find a mention of it in the annual reports.

     

     

    —————————————–

     

     

    STRATEGY, THE BUSINESS MODEL AND OBJECTIVES

     

     

    Notwithstanding the current challenges arising from Covid-19,

     

    the Group’s objective is unchanged – to create a world class football

     

    club through our strategy and business model for growth focusing

     

    on three key areas:

     

    (i) Core Business – football operations with a self-sustaining

     

    financial model, relying upon: youth academy; player

     

    development; player recruitment; management of the player

     

    pool; sports science and performance analysis; and football

     

    success.

     

    (ii) Development of the Celtic Brand – incorporating the Celtic

     

    Park Masterplan and the development of international revenues.

     

    (iii) Improvement in the football environment in which Celtic

     

    plays – representation within football governance and

     

    administration at domestic and European level.

     

     

    THE BUSINESS REVIEW

     

    The principal activity of the Group is the operation of a professional

     

    football club, with related and ancillary activities. The principal activity

     

    of the Company is to control and manage the main assets of the

     

    business whilst the majority of operating activity is carried out by a

     

    subsidiary of Celtic plc, Celtic F.C. Limited. As a result, both of these

     

    companies are managed and controlled as a single entity in order to

     

    achieve the objectives of the Group.

     

    The operation of a professional football club encompasses a wide range

     

    of activities including: football operations and investment; operation of

     

    the Celtic FC Youth Academy; match ticketing; merchandising; partner

     

    programmes; marketing and brand protection; multimedia; stadium

     

    operations; facilities and property; catering and hospitality; public

     

    relations and supporter relations; and human resources.

     

    The Group has three key revenue streams:

     

    (i) Football and Stadium Operations;

     

    (ii) Merchandising; and

     

    (iii) Multimedia and Other Commercial Activities.

     

    A segmental analysis of these streams is reported in Note 5 to the

     

    Financial Statements. Football and stadium operations includes all

     

    revenue in relation to all football operations, ticket office, stadium

     

    and youth development. Merchandising includes all retail, wholesale

     

    and e-commerce activities. Multimedia and other commercial

     

    activities include all other revenue generating departments including

     

    sponsorship and rights sales. Given the nature of the business, all

     

    revenue streams are inextricably linked to the success of the first team.

     

    Each of these divisions have been impacted in different ways by

     

    Covid-19 and this, along with the actions taken by management to

     

    mitigate the impact, are discussed in more detail below

  11. SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:11 PM

     

     

     

    I wouldn’t worry about the detail. There isn’t going to be a referendum. That’s one of the reasons Mr Salmond is so annoyed. That and the court case of course.

  12. SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:18 PM

     

     

     

     

    ‘I cant find a mention of it in the annual reports.’

     

     

    ##

     

     

     

    Do you believe what the Board said about Res 12?

  13. I am asking you questions, the annual reports are audited, why is there no mention of this “old firm” component ?

  14. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

     

     

    The Group monitors performance against the following key

     

    performance indicators:

     

    • Football success (refer to pages 8 – 9 and page 40

     

    Five Year Record);

     

    • Match attendance statistics (refer to page 40, Stadium

     

    and Matchday Operations and page 40 Five Year Record);

     

    • Sales performance per revenue stream (refer to The Financial

     

    Review page 13 and Note 5, Segmental Reporting);

     

    • Wage and other costs (refer to pages 13 – 14, Operating

     

    Expenses and page 15, Current Trading and Outlook);

     

    • Capital expenditure (refer to page 14, Property Plant and

     

    Equipment);

     

    • Profit and cash generation (refer to page 15, Current

     

    Trading and Outlook);

     

    • Shareholder value (with weekly share price reporting

     

    disseminated within the business); and

     

    • Player trading (refer to page 14, Net Player Trading).

     

    The key components of these KPIs are discussed on the

     

    following pages.

     

    The Group operates a 5 year plan which is updated and reviewed

     

    on an annual basis. A detailed budget is prepared and approved

     

    by the Directors in advance of each trading year. The budget

     

    identifies all the key performance areas noted above.

     

    The actual performance of the Group is then monitored against

     

    the budget with particular emphasis against the key performance

     

    indicators as noted above.

     

    Monthly management accounts are prepared highlighting

     

    performance against budget and the prior year, detailing analysis

     

    of sales performance, total cost control including total labour

     

    costs, player trading gains or losses and capital expenditure.

     

    The management accounts also include regular re-forecasts of

     

    the anticipated outturn performance for the financial year end to

     

    which they pertain.

     

    Actual and forecast performance is fully considered at the regular

     

    Board meetings linking back to profit and cash generation.

     

    Management and departmental meetings are held on a regular

     

    basis to discuss actual and forecast performance with future action

     

    agreed accordingly. On a weekly basis, performance is reported

     

    through a series of key performance indicators, which are shared

     

    with business decision makers and managers, including by revenue

     

    stream and match attendance analysis.

     

    A review of the performance of the Group, particularly in relation to

     

    football success and match attendance statistics, sales performance,

     

    wage and other costs, and player trading is outlined in this Strategic

     

    Report, under the sub headings which follow, as appropriate.

  15. UNCLE JIMMY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 3:08 PM

     

    Big Wavy @ 2:38

     

    Entirely due to my ignorance, could you expand on ” I still expect one or some of Soro, Ajeti, Barkas and Bolingoli to leave soon as the clubs interesting them have longer windows than 31.1.”

     

     

    —–

     

     

    Hi UJ,

     

     

    No problem. The transfer windows in the US and other areas of interest remain open and we can still send players to them in February but clearly we can’t register anymore until summer. That means we have a chance of offloading the highly paid ones still.

     

     

    HH

  16. GARNGAD TO CROY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 2:44 PM

     

    Coneybhoy

     

    ‘Boris’ hero is Churchill’

     

    Churchill was an inventor, apparently, he invented the ‘Onesie’

     

    ———–

     

    aw man, i have 2 images i wish i didn’t have! Glad it wasn’t the mankini

  17. park the bus 442 on

    2012 = RFC died = £49 ticket

     

    2016 = RFC risen = £49 ticket

     

    The same Celtic fans bought the tickets.

     

    OldFirm PLC backed by 53,000 of the same Celtic fans.

  18. SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:23 PM

     

    I am asking you questions, the annual reports are audited, why is there no mention of this “old firm” component ?

     

     

    ###

     

     

     

    You’ll find the answer to your question by answering mine.

     

     

    Oh, and you maybe want to find out what the role of an auditor is. You clearly haven’t a clue.

  19. lol,

     

     

    Ernie, dont tell my employer that please, its a core part of my job, and if I cant read a set of accounts, identify risk mitigations or know how the company strategy aligns to financial performance, I might get my jotters.

     

     

     

    CDN CSC

     

     

    Boris would be proud of you today. Deflections.

  20. Aussies 1-0 up at halftime, with Rogic, Boyle, Mooy, Irvine all starting. No McGree, even on bench – wonder what happened to him?

  21. park the bus 442 on

    ERNIE LYNCH

     

    I heard a rumour, I know I know, that when Brendan left us (Feb/Mar) there was £178 million on Celtic’s balance sheet, and yet at the start of the next season (July) there was £43 million on the balance sheet?

     

    Does that sound right?

     

    A poster was banned from another unnamed Celtic blog for trying to highlight this, he was banned without any discussion being had which in itself seemed a bit suspicious. He said something about the balance sheet being freely accessible and that this set of figures hasn’t been removed from Celtic’s official accounts but he placed a lot of emphasis around his contention that in the period of time between Brendan leaving for Leicester and the start of Celtic’s next season, (March – June) the poster said that £130 million had disappeared from Celtic’s balance sheet within that period of time, and not a single person has asked where the missing £130 million had disappeared to?

     

    Don’t you think that sounds a bit iffy?

  22. Dear Celtic plc

     

     

    We note that with the draft submission you have neglected to inform that your financial performance is highly dependent on a supplier partnership with another football team, and that football fixtures with this team, and associated revenue streams there from , including media and hospitality sales makes up an estimated 20% of forecasted revenues in the 5 year plan.

     

     

    Is there risk mitigation in place should that fixture and associated revenues be reduced or removed ?

     

     

    yours the Auditors.

     

     

    Dear Auditors,

     

    we did not neglect to inform you per se, as we dont see this as a risk, as that entity is on a sound financial footing, the people who operate the business have done so successfully for many years, and indeed our risk mitigation would be to stop our own investing to allow for them to win things in a manner that guarantees the fixture.

     

    Mick the Pen

     

     

    Dear Celtic Plc

     

    We would strongly advise against this, and instead would expect a note in the accounts to this affect.

     

    Alternatively could we suggest that continued winning of said items as stated in your Strategic review would be the correct course of action.

  23. If Calum plays, will he be the first Celt to wear one of those ‘phantom of the opera’ masks? Seen them used a lot in England

  24. CONEYBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 5:04 PM

     

    If Calum plays, will he be the first Celt to wear one of those ‘phantom of the opera’ masks? Seen them used a lot in England

     

     

    —————–

     

     

    Loads of rangers players over the years should have been made to wear masks

  25. the long wait is over on

    SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 5:06 PM

     

    CONEYBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 5:04 PM

     

     

    If Calum plays, will he be the first Celt to wear one of those ‘phantom of the opera’ masks? Seen them used a lot in England

     

     

    —————–

     

     

    Loads of rangers players over the years should have been made to wear masks

     

     

    =========================

     

     

    Agree, but does the whole outfit masquerading as a long dead previous incarnation count..?

  26. SAINT STIVS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2022 4:49 PM

     

     

    I don’t like knocking the dustbin off any man’s shoulder but you are absolutely clueless.

     

     

    Have you ever considered becoming an MSP?

     

     

    You’d fit right in.

  27. I would be interested Ernie in what qualifications and experience you have, and could I maybe copy your cv ?

     

     

    I will need to quit the International Finance game and as you say apply for one of them there parliamentary advisors jobs

  28. its just the same old song

     

     

    ——————-

     

     

    ERNIE LYNCH on 26TH MARCH 2021 12:05 PM

     

    is it possible that Celtic’s owner is of the mind that the huns need a period of domination to consolidate their finances to ensure the long term survival of the Old Firm, without which his game plan of gaining entry to the EPL is doomed?

  29. I really did think Callum looked awfy sore just wlaking on and off the pitch on saturday.

     

     

    I wouldnt risk the bhoy at all.

     

     

    If he had to wear a mask I would bet anything he would get a dunt in the face first chance they got.