As I walked out of Celtic Park after the Leipzig game it occurred to me that we are a totally different football team than we would be without our three Japanese players. Kyogo, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda transformed Celtic three years ago and the trophies have flowed ever since.
Between them, the cost just shy of £7m, money that is almost within the reach of four clubs in Scotland. We signed them, because Ange Postecoglou knew them from his time in Yokohama. There is value in Japan, but since Ange, we have looked elsewhere.
Last week, it was difficult to avoid talking about Nicolas Kuhn, the breakthrough player across this season’s Champions League (so far). Nicolas signed in January and was cursed in some places by being regarded as a ‘project’. It took less than 6 months for his project to mature into a player we could struggle to hold onto.
There is a common thread between the players signed from Japan and Nicolas – City Football Group (CFG). Yokohama are a CFG member club, who also developed Mark Lawwell for a decade before he reunited with Ange at Celtic as our head of recruitment.
Mark Lawwell’s term also saw Paulo Bernardo join (initially on loan) and Alistair Johnston. He found Yang, Oh and Kwon, all three of whom are back in the South Korea national squad.
And, of course, Alexandro Bernabei, the left back currently ripping it up Brazil, and who we are set to make a packet on, as well as Tomoki Iwata, who is thriving at Birmingham. His hit rate reflected his development with the elite recruiment resources at Manchester City.
Before Brendan arrived in 2016, we discussed how those in senior positions at Celtic had only ever worked at smaller clubs. Brendan’s appointment broke the mould and Celtic’s football operation leapt forward.
The two we recruited from CFG elevated our operations further and were bang on where we needed to be as a club. Our identity and mission was clear, we find talent with elite potential and transform them into winners and Champions League players.
We still have an elite manager in Brendan. We have money in the bank and will continue to buy players. Going forward, they are more likely to resemble Adam Idah (£9.5m, English second tier, will not appreciate in value), and Arne Engels (£11m, German top tier, smaller appreciation likely), than Kuhn or Hatate.
As a consequence, our identity now is less sharp than it was a year ago and our growth potential is inhibited. The future lies in finding gold in places like Vienna, not the bench of an English Championship club.
The Ange Postecoglou – Mark Lawwell era demonstrated what you can find when an elite manager and head of recruitment work together. Listen out, you’ll hear, “How are we going to hold onto these Mark Lawwell signings”, as I did from one CQN’er the walk out of Celtic Park last Tuesday night. Still, those who want to spend money to stay ahead of the other lot, instead of operating at a genuinely elite level across the club, will be happy.
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Darwin
“Will we be able to ever sign another Israeli player?”
I don’t feel that it’s the fault of the Celtic support if we are unable to do so. Liel left because he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel. Celtic fans didn’t want him to leave.
Two young Muslim players who played at an Israeli club (Beitar?) were subjected to such abuse by the club’s fans that they were forced to leave. The fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv didn’t distinguish themselves in Amsterdam last week either. Don’t single out the Green Brigade if you’re not prepared to give a balanced view.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 12th November 2024 3:03 pm
I don’t feel that it’s the fault of the Celtic support if we are unable to do so. Liel left because he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel. Celtic fans didn’t want him to leave.
Why do you think he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel ??
67ECW
i’m standing with green brigade….
i slightly wonder, what do our japanese players, or indeed all the foreigners think of britains need to remember the war dead.
and about our fans politics,
ps, i hope our scouting has another japanese talent incoming.
did any of you see the us campus protests – young american spokespersons wearing celtic tops
the fans of various clubs around the world have come out in support on the green brigade’s stance
if anyone is turned away from celtic because of the GB s support for Palestine – then which type of people are they ?
this forum is known as the grey brigade for a reason – our age group have allowed the world to become what it is today – maybe some are happy with that – fair enough
can you imagine for one moment anybody directly affected by today’s genocide watching the western world’s media and its minutes silence/lest we forget ? Starmer/Macron/Dotard Trump/whoever the german who succeeded Merkl is all standing there complicit in today’s wars.
our detractors look for any excuse to get at the club – as TB said “Fek them”.
My friends in Celtic,
I dont attend other games apart from Celtic.
I watch all the Celtic away games on TV.
I only know what I see at my club , subsequently its difficult to give a balanced view of those i dont watch.
My view, wear a Poppy if you want. Dont wear one iif you don’t want to.
But do not disrespect the dead Many fans have personal views. I get that.
A very, very small aside. My old school was founded by the same order that founded Celtic. It has a proud history and is currently located a stones throw from Celtic Park. It has a war memorial to honour the over 108 former pupils who died in WW2 alone..
This memorial has moved with the school to all its locations.
Celtic had over 50 players and ex players who fought in WW1 alone. At least 7 died in the war.
We have a direct link to remberance.
We dishonoured their memory. We dishonoured our own and we damaged the reputation of a great club.
Hail, hail.
we have players from the only country to have had a nuclear bomb dropped on it by the West.
(if we dont count the tests on the West’s own servicemen, who we cant even be arsed compensating)
btw, happy to observe a minutes silence but not have it forced upon me.
i have family who served/died in the war.
I think i know what my auld man’s dad would have said about it.
hhmmmm
Kronen Zeitung claims that €30m (£24.8m) has been ‘discussed’ as a potential fee for Kuhn to leave.
This would put Kuhn right up there with the money Celtic racked in for Kieran Tierney in 2019, and more recently Matt O’Riley when he went to Brighton during the summer.
In terms of this years signings:-
Schmeichel. does what he always has, good player
Trusty was quite expensive but is looking a better player than the 2 CHs we bought in 2023. Good player
Valle is an excellent player and we will only get a year of him but has filled a light area in the squad. Good player
goalie, don’t know
Engels looks a great talent and replacement for Matt. Good player
Luke McCowan looks like a massive bargain. late blooming good player
Bernardo is really last season’s signing but glad he is here. Good player
Idah is the big one. Expensive due to circumstances but has failed to impress this season for club and country. He really needs to sharpen up after the break (not in Ireland squad) and get back to his loan form and hopefully beyond. I’d still buy another striker in Jan ; journeyman or project but more cover up there
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY @ 3:03
Liel left because he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel. Celtic fans didn’t want him to leave.
————-
Of course I respect your view as expressed above, and on the surface it is true, but not complete.
The hastily arranged “support the resistance’ and accompanying Hamas flag on the stands at Celtic Park by the GB,, only hours after the slaughter of October 7, was the catalyst and overriding reason why Abada had to leave. Of course he came under pressure from back home, why wouldn’t he?
How could he play for a club who’s fans were celebrating what happened only a few hours before and when hostages were on their way to Gaza and athe naked and beheaded body of a nineteen year old girl was being paraded on the streets of Gaza in a pick-up truck to allow gathered crowds to spit on her.
The GB would have hounded him relentlessly had he not, with the help of the club, moved on. Celtic knew there could be no going back and sheltered and helped him with a transfer. HH
Two thirds of Celtic fans believe the Scottish champions should have an independently elected fan advisory board, according to new research from the University of Glasgow. (Glasgow Times)
Darwin –
“The GB would have hounded him relentlessly had he not, with the help of the club, moved on”
utter bullshit
The GB would have hounded him relentlessly had he not,
bollox
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 12TH NOVEMBER 2024 3:18 PM
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 12th November 2024 3:03 pm
I don’t feel that it’s the fault of the Celtic support if we are unable to do so. Liel left because he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel. Celtic fans didn’t want him to leave.
Why do you think he was under extreme pressure from people within Israel ??
67ECW
…………………………………
He was under pressure from people in Israel, as you well know, because a section of Celtic supporters have actively and openly aligned themselves with the Palestinians who live in Gaza and their plight.
If in future, we are unable to sign any Israeli players because of this, though regrettable, it is a price worth paying.
My own view is that the murderous attack by Hamas on 7 October last year was appalling but the response by Israel has been totally disproportionate. They are attempting genocide in the Gaza Strip and it should be condemned by all right thinking people. The Israeli fans in Amsterdam last week chanted throughout the silence for the Valencia flood victims that there were no schools in Gaza because the children are all dead.
spikeysauldman on 12th November 2024 3:47 pm
btw, happy to observe a minutes silence but not have it forced upon me.
I said earlier that anyone going to the game knew there would be a minutes silence -so they make the choice- hardly forced.
“And last but not least thank you to all the Celtic fans. Recent times were very difficult for myself and my family but I want to say thank you to all the Celtic fans that stood by me, supported and respected me as a Celtic player and I hope that I have given you few moments to remember me by. It is now time to begin a new chapter on my journey in a new place and with new targets. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything.”
Liel Abada
on the minutes silence issue; it seems to me that the further removed from events time wise, the less respect and more ‘attitude’.
I won’t bang on about it but a lot of the youth at Celtic these days do my head in. maybe I’m too old.
Before the Leipzig game there was a silence for Valencia floods. i had to have words with a non regular behind me who was roaring about Palestine. To be fair, he piped down.
Then my least favourite part of the ground (RHS of Celtic end) started up.
I understand frustration at not having Gaza silence but not the right thing to do. At that point I knew for certain any silence at Killie would be disrupted and I thought Rodgers totally ducked it in his interview. He is perfectly placed as an Ulsterman wearing a poppy to have set out a balanced view
That’s all, let’s do the dance again next Nov!!!
Bournesouprecipe
Thank you for printing Liel’s message to the Celtic fans.
To those who said the GB would have forced him out, that’s absolute nonsense.
spikeysauldman on 12th November 2024 3:39 pm
Commendable as it may seem to support Palestine (and I do) what about the rest
Why no banners about Ukraine, I never heard anything about Syria or School kids abducted (and use your imagination about what happened to them) in Burkina Faso – no nothing in support of these causes
There are wars going on all over the world
But it’s got nothing to do with Celtic
https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts
67ECW
bournesouprecipe on 12th November 2024 4:03 pm
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 12th November 2024 3:59 pm
So we Glaswegians can get all passionate with strong views about our support for Palestine
But Leil an Israeli should just carry on regardless and not worry about the anti feeling towards his country
Having read many of your posts on here over the years I do not believe you are short of a few O’levels
So to think the GBs support for Palestine had nothing to do with Leil Abada leaving Celtic – you are IMHO in denial – it had just about everything to do with it
67ECW
TOSB
You’re welcome.
I don’t think Dudu Dahan who has brokered most Celtic players signed from the Middle East will be fretting over the Green Brigade’s stance, unlike some of CQN’s daily Multi – Monika’s.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 12TH NOVEMBER 2024 4:29 PM
I believe Liel made the statement above, posted by Bournesdouprecipe, of his own free will and volition. He also made it I think more than a week after he left Celtic when he had absolutely no reason to do so if he felt under threat from our fans.
abada is last seasons new
poppy debate is now behind us till next year
the society we live in will never accept us
if it not poppies, its the tri colour
if its not the tri colour its the ira songs
And so it goes on
Stop feeding into their shite
We are flying high as a club
bournesouprecipe on 12th November 2024 4:32 pm
Middle East who have we ever signed from the Middle East ??
If by Middle East you mean Israel ??
I would bet £1 it will be difficult to get an Israel player to join Celtic in the next 3 to 5 years
67ECW
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 12th November 2024 4:33 pm
https://www.thenational.scot/sport/24164665.abada-left-no-celtic-choice-disgusting-treatment/
And so the debate goes on
But the point is this
Celtic Football Club is not a place to demonstrate a minorities political belief
Get yourself on Question Time if you want make a point
Question Time does not show Football
Celtic Park is not for politics
67ECW
We all have our opinions and biases but one thing can’t be disputed:
Our results in Europe this season up to now have improved on our recent CL campaigns
How do you explain that?
In two of those campaigns Brendan was our manager – we’re undoubtedly better this season than in those two.
Logic suggests we have a better team this season than we did under Brendan last time.
Our transfer strategy must, surely, take some of the credit for it?
Or maybe Brendan has improved? Or both Brendan and the team?
My last point on this good afternoon debate
We humped Aberdeen at Hampden
We were immense against Leipzig
We battled and won on a shit pitch against a team of thugs
But instead of revelling in our brilliance we (Or I ) end up getting passionate on a political subject instead of a football one
I’m off for a pint
Hail Hail
67ECW
Early this morning I backed FOUR Horses in a LUCKY 15 Bet. That was my only Horse Racing Bet.
ALL FOUR Horses WON….at odds of 9/1, 7/2, 7/4 and 5/4.
NOT too shabby result !
LOL
HH.
Darwin on 12th November 2024 3:51 pm
The GB would have hounded him relentlessly had he not,
……………..
I dont think so.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS
It might be difficult for Israeli players to sign anywhere, let alone for Celtic, if things don’t get better soon.
The Green Brigade or more specifically the entire North Curve were supporting the Palestinian cause long before we signed players from either side of ‘the conflict ’.
A lot of the pressure came from Israel itself, including the Israeli national team manager who publicly accused Celtic supporters of antisemitism in November 2023 and virtually told the player, to get out of Dodge.
Celtic without circus, successfully spirited Liel away to pastures for a very handsome profit.
As ever CSC .
Spikeysauldman
You are on good form today !
Sometimes it’s bagels and sometimes a Morton’s roll for me.
Never bacon though ! I am a vegetarian !!!
freedom of speech should allow us to shout, cheer or boo thru any silence that is not law
Is that not what they fought for???
Over 50 contracted and former Celtic players served in the war.[10] Of the 908,371 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the fighting, six were former Celtic players whilst one was still a contracted player at the club.[10] The fallen were Patrick Slavin, Leigh Richmond Roose, Donnie McLeod, Archie McMillan, Bob Craig, John McLaughlin and Peter Johnstone. Roose and Slavin died in the Battle of the Somme (1916), four others died in 1917 and Craig died in 1918.[10]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_F.C._and_World_War_I#:~:text=Over%2050%20contracted%20and%20former,Photo%20by%20Ernest%20Brooks.
My great granda got shot in the Dardenelles.
said it hurt like $%&£
family joke still getting passed down
My great uncle Dick (settle down!) who was Irish, died on a minesweeper in WW2; they missed one – true story which I assumed was a joke 😎
Celtic Football Club is not a place to demonstrate a minorities political belief
——————-
coming in from holywell street at the aberdeen game.
the hawkers are selling all sorts of celtic/political hats, badges, scarves and flags.
che is everywhere, irish martyrs everywhere, palestinian flas are now alonside lebanon ones.
two men are collecting for republican prisoners,
the penny whisler is doing foggy due.
two redheaded schoolkids are playing violin with a music stand and sheet are playing grace (i wonder a little, would she be proud of the celtic support still being “political”)
that continues mightly inmside the ground on the north curve.
minorty politics is it >
gies peace.
Israel teams are NOT in Europe, therefore should not be in any competitions, simple, but money talks