On a blog last week I wrote, “A point for Michael Nicholson and Dermot Desmond. Two years ago you appointed a manager who, every time he has spoken this month, has put you in the dock for this one [Almaty]. Brendan’s is the only voice representing the club right now and it is not flattering.
“The lack of a constructive narrative is self-defeating and leaves fans wondering: What’s going on?”
The information vacuum from Celtic, apart from Brendan Rogers’ internecine comments, is not sustainable. A week later, calls for answers have become deafening. Celtic fans are not always right in their views, but I always find them easy to speak to (don’t be fooled by a few loons online, they’re pussycats face-to-face).
Plans do not always work out, but when that’s the case, stakeholders (which in this case includes Celtic fans) are best kept informed. Isolation is not your friend.
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Celtic pay your wages. Earn them.
Price the Europa correctly, smash it, get the fans back onboard and restore credibility.
Simples, in the short term.
HH.
If Maeda had agreed personal terms with a club, does that mean a fee had been agreed as well? As he is still under contract, a club cannot approach him without permission, no? Or have the rules changed? (I know agents talk to agents etc etc).
Normally a player says “I was aware of interest but it’s just talk”. And a club will say “we had offers but made it clear he’s not for sale” . . .) But Maeda is saying he had actually agreed to a move and was asking Celtic right up to the last moment to let him go.
There’s no “getting the fans back onboard.”
And these people have no credibility. There’s no restoring what’s manifestly not there.
They can present a vision for Celtic’s future and then plan their own phased transitioning out of the club or they can wait to see what this fan campaign amounts to and leave under different circumstances.
But what they’ve done this summer is irrevocable.
There is no going back from it.
Bhoyjoebelfast on 5th September 2025 4:49 pm
Karl Denver ( born Angus Mackenzie Glasgow).
———
Good shout, I never knew that.
As for the amazing Ken Dodd who wanted to be Chancellor to be reunited with his money. Magic.
Great question.
Cheers and HH.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2025 4:33 PM
They’ve not stopped coming, but other than paying it lip service Brendan seems to have lost interest in developing them.
Theres no planning for after he leaves, it’s all about this season, getting those sort of players is extreme difficult unfortunately.
We were far too reactive in the window, filling holes with players who were always more likely to go elsewhere was always going to be risky
A coherent strategy looks over two, three four windows. We had that but it’s gone now, hopefully not for good, we need to make sure we’re still an attractive option for players and agents like Kuhn abd Nerlinger
Wonder who,if anyone,Daizen will go to in January window.
Appears he will head then,I don’t see anything being offered
HH
An Dún on 5th September 2025 4:12 pm
Go Ahead Eagles sporting director Marc van Hintum admits Jakob Breum was gutted by Celtic’s failure to agree a deal to take him to Parkhead.
But players don’t want to come to Celtic…
Guys on here told us it’s always difficult to sign players when the Window is open….
Said in a Hank Fonda , 12 angry men voice – “Let’s take various pieces of testimony and try to put them together” .
• 01/01/25 – Celtic recall Johnny Kenny from Shamrock Rovers .
• 27/01/25 – Kyogo Furuhashi signs for Rennes .
• 05/09/25 – Reports from Japan today quote Daizen Maeda as saying “I’d been talking to the club since before the end of last season (24/05/25) , and I’d always told them I wanted to take the next step” .
• 16/06/25 – Transfer window opens .
• 30/06/25 – Callum Osmand signs for Celtic .
• 01/07/25 – Brendan on Callum Osmand , “We are delighted to get Callum up here and we’ll have a look in pre-season and see where he’s at from there” .
• 16/07/25 – Brendan on Shin Yamada , “We’ll bring him in and assess him”.
• 19/07/25 – Shin Yamada signs for Celtic .
• 08/08/25 – Brendan on Johnny Kenny , “We think in the future he can be a really good asset for the club” .
• 20/08/25 – Adam Idah plays 45 minutes in the goalless home draw with Kairat Almaty .
• 26/08/25 – Adam Idah not involved in the Champions’ league elimination at the hands of Kairat Almaty : wantaway Daizen leads the line .
• 28/08/25 – Anderlecht eliminated from the Europa Conference league by AEK Athens presenting Kasper Dolberg with an opportunity to leave .
• 01/09/25 – Kasper Dolberg signs for Ajax .
• 01/09/25 – Seville release Kelechi Iheanacho .
• 02/09/25 – Celtic sign free agent Kelechi Iheanacho .
So , assuming for a minute that Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda were both wantaways , and neither Johnny Kenny nor Callum Osmand nor Shin Yamada were considered candidates for the role of first choice striker , how many targets were Celtic pursuing from 16/06/25 and who were they ? Hint , it wasn’t Kasper Dolberg or Kelechi Iheanacho .
James Forrest on 5th September 2025 4:54 pm
Firstly, I think the blog is a much better place when you post. And Burnley78 for that matter.
I was in the boozer from 10.00 hrs last Sunday. It was a hard shift and a terrible watch.
But what was amazing, Nobody was completely down after the game. We had a thirsty happy party , especially when the bus returned .
Respectfully I fundementially disagree with you.
We can get the fans back onboard in the short term.
Personally, I have no other home.
The medium to long term will require change.
HH.
We are also seeing DD blocking transfers because BR said no to a new contract.
Civil war…
from bampots to online loons we are cqn!
GREENPINATA on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2025 4:51 PM
The price is secondary to directly addressing the public concerns of the fans – as expressed by over 300 fan groups.
If we release a package without talking to fan groups about this window, we’ll be closing the upper tier imo.
Gentlemen, start your engines…..
I don’t recall a clamour beginning two months ago to sell Daizen.
Not saying there wasn’t one. If the was, I missed it.
Equally, I can’t see who on here is blaming Brendan Rodgers for the Daizen situation?
If you’re looking for someone to ‘blame’ (I ain’t) there is an obvious candidate.
Apologies , Adam was involved in the away game in Almaty
Deniabhoy @ 4:54pm
It’s the modern way unfortunately
Clubs often negotiate the package with the player/player’s agent first just to get it out of the way.
(Although this kind of tentative exploration is typically done with the permission of the club holding the registration, before a fee is agreed)
Not sure why … I suspect it is as simple as fee negotiations now taking longer as a result of FSR.
No point going back and forth on that, nailing a fee structure only to find the player says “Nah”
Fred Colon on 5th September 2025 5:26 pm
“Apologies , Adam was involved in the away game in Almaty”
………
Adam must have been the only one who was involved.
lucky cody on 5th September 2025 5:11 pm
We are also seeing DD blocking transfers because BR said no to a new contract.
Civil war…
Brendan made the right decision, he is getting fkd over now,and they would have done the same if he extended,they are now baiting him to walk,blackmail tactics
https://celtsarehere.com/whats-he-directing-bbc-journalist-takes-aim-at-unseen-man-in-maeda-saga/
https://thecelticbhoys.com/blockbuster-ange-postecoglou-celtic-return-claim-made
Get well Bobo Legend.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/celtic-bobo-balde-psychiatric-hospital-35854829
CELTIC40ME on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2025 5:02 PM
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2025 4:33 PM
There’s merit in what you post on here
but it’s a circuitous debate
BR inherited Ange’s team minus the best player and ‘someone’s ‘ shopping list in 2023, not sure he overcame it. He’s not a ‘maintenance man’ which is maybe what they were looking for?
Who did MON develop from the bargain rail he wasn’t a track suit manager and Steve Walford took training most days. MONs era was bankrolled , then he was offski, after a constant battle with the board.
Nothings, really changed BR wants players in his team that cost money that Celtic don’t want to pay.
It really isn’t rocket salad
Genuine question.
Celtic sell the April 2026 version of Daizen Maeda for big money in the summer of 2026 …
… and replace him with the equivalent of the January 2022 Daizen Maeda (capability level, fee, wages) to then be developed, improved and rewarded with a bigger contract
(“bumper” is the current phrase of choice)
Would this be acceptable to you?
(IMHO, this goes to the essence of any recruitment strategy)
James, what is the point in fans singing “Sack The Board” whilst the illustrious £75,000 per week manager stands on the touchline pointing aimlessly, like Peter Grant?!
Whilst £32 Million worth of players from last season, sit on the bench taking selfies of each other?!
https://thecelticblog.com/2025/09/articles-and-features/the-hacks-who-doubt-the-celtic-fans-resolve-are-very-much-mistaken/
Back to Basics – cheers. Last season I assumed a few teams would be interested in signing Maeda, I also assumed the club would have made it known he wasn’t for sale or said Maeda won’t be allowed to leave for less than X million. Our usual approach.
The story today makes me think there is no release clause in his contract or he would already be gone. Maybe a verbal promise was made to him which the Club failed to stand by – and that’s why he is speaking out.
In lkenny jam now
belmont brian
Wish our Ceo displayed a fraction of the energy that Led Zeppelin put into that track….
And we wouldn’t be in the shape (of things) we are in right now
fred colon
Thanks for that link, brilliant version
https://youtu.be/JM3fodiK9rY?si=HiYmOdYvyYmIZHf2
When the levee breaks they ain’t got not place to hide.
No
HI bhoys IM back .I spent mon to this morning in LEEDS HOAPITAL having a TAVI operation and a PACEMAKER fitted. someone told me a lot of people sent me good luck messages so i thank them for that. IM back home in YORK and slightly tired but delighted to have had the treatment. the staff were absolutely fantastic and so professional. Talk about dedication.
I missed CQN and when i come on top of page four who is there loud and proud WEE NIKLAS biggest fan .
Meanwhile our LEADER is having a meeting with a group of fans .They do not under any circumstance represent me .They will come out all smiles and pockets full of broken biscuits.
The only way to get a result is to stay away. The club has your money for this season so tell them to STICK IT. And tell them you will not renew next season. DD has to get the message that enough is enough.
Just before JOCK STEIN arrived the supporter ass met in SPRINGBURN to agree a BHOYCOTT. Just when they were taking their seats someone ran in and told them BIG JOCK was coming. The rest as they say……………………….
Bitter me ….
A Stairway to Heaven is this year’s heated driveway.
brrb
That too!
Favourite Uncle – hope your ticker doesn’t get too stressed by the Tic this season.
Take it easy 💪
https://youtu.be/68uVookvD_8?si=byZWWkQlQm-jPMwm
ACSOM LIVE
vale bhoy on 5th September 2025 1:35 pm
“Back in the 1980s, John Divers once made a very similar point to me and other colleagues about watching Celtic. What he said was, “Would you boo at the screen if the movie was rubbish?””
I can barely bring myself to walk out if its rubbish let alone boo. I think Summer of Sam was the only movie I’ve walked out of.
“In my analogy, I was thinking more about the EL package because I’ve already met quite a few ST holders who have cancelled the HTCS.”
Fair enough. I won’t be buying two packages this year. Not a protest but my eldest has a course on Thursdays and I don’t have the heart to go without him and, despite saving money on a new Tumble Dryer (thanks to a wee £5 part and a lot of googling!) I have a big auto electrician bill coming unless I can figure out why my lights and horn aren’t working!
Favourite Uncle.
Great news hope you enjoy the new lease
HH
DeniaBhoy on 5th September 2025 4:54 pm
“If Maeda had agreed personal terms with a club, does that mean a fee had been agreed as well? As he is still under contract, a club cannot approach him without permission, no? Or have the rules changed? (I know agents talk to agents etc etc).”
I wonder if this means he was given permission to talk as we might have roughly agreed a price as often this can happen still with the clubs consent (as well as often happening without!). If Celtic thought we were getting additional winger(s) in then we might have let him hold discussion whilst not agreeing to a sale unless we managed to get the back fill in first.
Regardless, hope to see him back to form soon. He seems too genuine a guy not to screw the nut and give his all. Khun never recovered from having to wait for a move, O’Reilly did. Hopefully Daizen is more like Matt than Nicolas!
FavouriteUncle
Hard I know, just relax and take it easy.
KINglubo