Monday’s win over Dundee gave an insight into the acclimatisation required for new players to settle into a team. Focus in this regard often goes on new living arrangements, the language and social aspects of being remote from your friends and family, but pragmatic aspects are just as important.
When to make a run, what it means when a team-mate does a specific action, where a player is most effective at receiving a ball are all things you learn in the heat of battle. We had two new forwards on the field on Monday, but this issue is more important for defenders, who are in danger if they do not know what the plan is when pressed in possession.
I am sure Martin O’Neill wants signings in as soon as possible, but for me, retaining the current squad until after the trip to Austria is more important. Celtic never looked back last season after the return from injury of Arne Engels and Alastair Johnston. They brought the energy and structure we missed for much of the campaign.
Monday looked rusty. The fastest way to change that is to work on fitness and process, without exit distractions.
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The rust?
You mean Nicholson, Desmond, Wilson and the rest?
Nicholson is going nowhere, he is DD’s CEO, he will do nothing to rock the boat or bite the hand that feeds him,he should have been replaced that he hasn’t speaks volumes on what Desmond wants and expects, there are players in this country who would make Celtic better, Fadinger for one, Ferry would step in when needed for KT or play when he’s unavailable, waiting on Yang or Tounekti to create chances for our front players will not pay dividends neither are what we need, Balikwisha is the new Ajeti, hopelessly out of his depth, if he was scouted by someone still at the club that person needs fired,there cannot be many in the headcount at Lennoxtown,do we need 6 minimum that’s before we might lose some more first team starters.
“Celtic have been linked with a SENSATIONAL move for free agent midfielder Georgi Kinkladze.
The 53 year old former Man City player and Georgia Internationalist, has been involved in wine production in Georgia for some years since his retirement but sources say that weekly 5 a side sessions have kept the mercurial attacker in “great nick.”
Michael Nicholson is said to have opened talks with Kinklazde’s agent and is prepared to “to push the boat out” to land his target.
Celtic see Kinklazde as an immediate replacement for Arne Engels and as the heir to Callum McGregor in the longer term.
The Celtic heirarchy, who expect to receive around £25m for Engels, are expected to authorise a BLOCKBUSTER 6 month rolling contract at up to £250 per week (net).
Following fan unrest about Celtic’s lack of transfer activity, the signing of such a big name will go some way to assuage a super hungry for new faces.”
Gene
I genuinely expected that.
I know the intent is there.
I also know there are challenges and it is the last window before the changes.
I am also confident that from the top there is the desire to do it.
Just as we won’t let Everton have Johnston right now despite terms etc sorted with player and his agent, so some clubs are doing similar with us.
It all changes in January but for now we may have to bite the bullet and pay over the odds.
Remember Scotland is not the most attractive market for folks to come to either so it’s easy for folk to walk away.
I am still hopeful Gene.
Wish we would sign that Dutch midfielder Jaiket Von Shooglynail.
Dexter – you had me there then I realised he would have no resale value.
If any of you know Paul personally, could you maybe ask him to change the plugin he uses for the league table? A simple thing to resolve. Beyond embarrasing that it has been stuck like that for months. Pride in the job and all that.
Cliftoncelt on 5th August 2026 12:03 pm
Need to retain players till after the qualifiers.
It looks like we aren’t buying until we sell someone,how long would that leave us? And prices will go up as clubs know we will be desperate then.
DENIABHOY on 5TH AUGUST 2026 2:21 PM
Dexter – you had me there then I realised he would have no resale value.
——-
Thought the huge salary offer would have given it away
B78
Thanks for the reply – hope you’re right
The last time I checked it was the same Champions League we played in.
Some things to consider in our musings as we seek to fill the remaining gaps in the squad…
Scales can provide cover for left back should KT be injured or when withdrawn during games.
If MON is inclined towards playing a back three, this may remove the urgency in recruiting a backup LB, but put more emphasis on the need for a left winger who can go past defenders and who actually has a tangible end product… either finding a teammate in a good position to score or creating his own scoring chances.
We should probably assume that peak Jota will not return. His injury appears to have been very significant, so even if he does get back to playing, he may not be able to have the impact that he has done previously. If he does get back at or near his prior level then that will be a huge bonus, but we should probably look to acquire a suitable replacement for the LW. Bear in mind also that Jota can play either wing, so if he does get back at peak level and we’ve brought in someone else, then Jota can play on the other side, which will need another body soon anyway as Jamesie closes out his playing days.
● Scottish League Cup Final● 2009●
Celtic had two players in the squad with same surname.One played,other unused sub?
Rust?
How about Celtic were mismanaged on night?
How about old Legend O’neill tried square pegs into round holes and Stephen Pressley’s Dundee made Super Celtic look ordinary?
How about O’neill is only one of a long line of Celtic bosses who seem to make excuses rather than admit that Stephen Pressley has the measure of them.
How about, if Stephen Pressley had O’neill’s, or Rodgers resources available to him, then Celtic or/and the Huns etc would struggle to get their hands on a single trophy?
How about we sign Ferry from Dundee Utd and utilize him as a left wingback, and use Tierney and his toughness as a front sweeper, moving McGregor up the pitch behind the strikers were McGregor’s skill set would set the front end of the pitch alight, leading to hundreds of Legendary goals?
How about we use wingbacks and get rid of wingers who are too easily double marked, and finally admit that Jimmy Johnstone, and Davie Provan were one off’s who’s like will never be seen again?
So fifteen have left the building, many are really not that big a loss, well most if the truth be know, my gripe is whomever sanctioned these third rate players on probably decent money should be getting their jotters, a bigger definition of shambles I doubt we will see.
*and how many on here and other sites used that well known CSC phrase “I wid drive him tae the airport masell” in relation tae them.
————-
happened on last nights superscoreboard
caller was so angry, celtic are shambolic he said, and as to engels, i would give him away for nuffin andi drive him to the airport masel.
he was a barrell of laughs, if celtic got me that pre-occupied and irrational i would find a new hobby/
Joe
Brown?
BRRB
Yes.Scott and Mark.Quick on the draw,John.Well done.
BSR, my favourite pun –
“Pun slinger” – one adept in the use of puns 🤪
bournesouprecipe on 5th August 2026 12:10 pm
WE will not know if we have slashed the wage bill until the accounts for 26/27 are produced.
We will know what the wage bill is for 25/26 when latest accounts are published. What I look for is how much is Rangers wage bill compared to ours and how much could we have spent without any risk of exceeding 70% of our football earnings.
It may be true that offloading players we did not want will reduce the wage bill temporarily but once window closes the cost of incoming players will impact on the wage bill.
My point is we need more information than we currently have to reach a more accurate judgement.
Shareholders on here if they want to know more is to ask Celtic via the process I posted earlier a question like.
“Our greatest rivals in Scotland in their annual accounts separate the player wage bill from he other staff wages. Celtic do not.
Why are Rangers more transparent to their shareholders than we are. Why do Celtic not provide similar information and in doing so improve the understanding of the constraints they are governed by. Going further why not publish the football earnings in total that UEFA have in detail with the same objective? ”
Here is how any shareholder with a question for the AGM can do it at any time.
Dear Company Secretary
================
I would like the following questions to be put to the Celtic Board at the next Celtic PLC AGM in accordance with Note 8 in previous AGM Notices of Annual General Meeting.
Shareholders are reminded that they can contact the Company at any time during the year with questions or suggestions via investorrelations@celticfc.co.uk Shareholders are welcome to submit questions in advance of the AGM via this email address, which the Board will endeavour to address at the AGM. We ask that all questions are submitted by no later than [A Date before the 2026 AGM ]. We ask that you include your full name and SRN in all communications with the Investor Relations Team
Questions for the Board – 202X AGM
Name
Share Reference Number CNNNNNNNNNN (essential and shown on Share Certificate)
Certificate Number CAnnnnnn if on Share Certificate
======================
A bit of transparency would help clear the dust kicked up on social media
DeniaBhoy on 5th August 2026 2:24 pm
If any of you know Paul personally, could you maybe ask him to change the plugin he uses for the league table? A simple thing to resolve. Beyond embarrasing that it has been stuck like that for months. Pride in the job and all that.
————-
there are several web platforms with the same league table still showing.
i was bothered and now am not, it is a daily reminder to the purple huns and 2nd rangers of what they could have won.
jim bowen csc
Auldheid.
Is it possible that the board have carried out a PESTLE analysis and identified a major (non nuclear) war as a significant, likely, threat, hence the reason for the ongoing cash stockpile?
PS if its a nuclear war, the games a bogey anyway 🙁
Pete Gregson sets out a cogent case for the deproscription in a speech to a Glasgow audience at the weekend. Well worth a listen.
rumble.com/v7dlx2o-hamas-tal…
Tall Cranes pub in Govan.
Picture of Jimmy Johnstone behind him.
~
https://x.com/DerbyChrisW/status/2084044176748953616
Two of my favourite puns.
The Past,Present and Future all walk into a bar.It was tense.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went.Then it dawned on me.
Saint Stivs – If it was my blog /website, I would source a different solution. Just like you can do with weather apps, live results apps etc etc . There will be many alternatives to provide up-to-date league tables. Why tolerate a broken one?
Fred Colon
A glance at the new mural in Janefield St, could suggest that ‘the Board’ don’t know their arts from their elbow👍
An example of a live widget to include on webpages giving up to date SPFL eague table, live results, fixtures etc
https://statsfc.com/competition/scottish-premiership-widgets
DeniaBhoy on 5th August 2026 2:02 pm
See my response to BSR
To add to that any profit on those players adds to the football earnings when latest set of accounts are submitted to SFA in Jan 27 when applying for a UEFA licence. So adding to football earnings and lowering the squad wage bill means Celtic can, if they wish, spend more on replacements with higher, by comparison, wages and transfer fees.
Whilst short term there may be a wage bill saving, long term it gives Celtic choices of how much to spend to recruit replacements.
Ai is all primed to have a look at Celtics accounts when they are published. It will be interesting to see if wages fell in line with reduced earnings, stayed much the same or even rose.
Here is a link to what AI made of the information in the 24/25 accounts with some stress testing included.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r2kdyDetsnPlCzJtHYePQnmwUde0b8ZE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947982974245186134&rtpof=true&sd=true
Look at what is said under “What this tells us about Celtic’s strategy.”
Player trading and Europe participation are substitutable
Each is worth roughly £20–25m of squad cost headroom. etc etc
It will be interesting to see what the latest accounts reveal and what they suggest about Celtic’s business model.
Fred Colon on 5th August 2026 2:56 pm
I think that after Covid that would be a factor. They just need to be transparent about it.
Imagine Scales at left back against a half decent team…….no offence but it shows what we have actually got to play with
Auldheid @ 2.52
One for John Paul when you hook up with him 👍
The January ‘ loan stars’ certainly conflate the situation but are an indicator of the recruitment fankle that’s been ongoing, for four years since we officially appointed HFO’s i.e. Mark Lawwell and then Paul Tisdale.
“ Club signings “ have dried up, no time for buying development players, MON is here for a year and wants specific quality for the same gaps that were evident from last summer not this. The questions become more relevant as the cash pile rises I.e. selling Engels Hatate AJ .
bournesouprecipe on 5th August 2026 3:45 pm
Auldheid @ 2.52
I think we got really lucky with Ange instead of Eddie Howe in that Ange had personal knowledge of players in Japan whose wages were lower than Celtic could play.
That personal knowledge is key to making a successful purchase but with player trading gone global systems take the place of managers but Celtic preferred what had worked for a long time. That took us to the Bayern level but I fear the cost of further ambition has outpaced the ability to pay for it.
Having said that I am surprised Celtic did not bid for Just at Motherwell and are not interested as far as we know in the Dundee Utd full back who has character.
could pay.
Why no Edit function still?
Fred Colon on 5th August 2026 2:56 pm
Auldheid.
Is it possible that the board have carried out a PESTLE analysis and identified a major (non nuclear) war as a significant, likely, threat, hence the reason for the ongoing cash stockpile?
PS if its a nuclear war, the games a bogey anyway 🙁
——————-
I have actually applied some of the old MBA tools on why we would keep so much cash and not be spending it on infrastructure at the very least.
I could easily come up with Programme of works on refurbishment and improved facilities , I could find a use for £70m easily enough.
So, with this in mind, what is the threat that means we keep cash.
And my conclusion is, they want to have a years worth cash equivalent on hand should a catostophic event occur again.
Be that another lock out type pandemic occurance, I do no think most fans would now be so generous to give a gift of a season book renewal into the over £600 price range.
We wouldnt be so daft again or would we ?
so cash retention it is.
Anybody know why MON is in hospital?
MON in hospital for a small procedure
Crikeycfc
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/2085015533053690348?s=20
Celtic Football Club@CelticFC
·
25m
In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O’Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital.
We would envisage Martin being released from hospital in the next day or two and on behalf of Martin, we
would like to thank supporters for their kind wishes.
We would ask that the privacy of Martin and his family is respected.
miilionnaires and billionnaires all round the world in every walk of life are taking money from the public and then hoarding it, or giving some of it to their millionnaire and billionnaire friends.
knowing our board, theres no reason to think they wouldnt join in.