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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one of my grandads went thru holland and belgium
The other, was in a POW camp with the japanese
both were great men in their own right
The latter, married a catholic and was then disowned by his family and thru that taught me about family (also never got the TB jab as he contracted tuberculosis in captivity)
the internet is watching me, this just popped up in my feeds. shoul i be worried?
https://holywellst.com/
Jings, I thought I was unpopular on here yesterday.
Started reading your leader Pablo, bur burst out laughing on the train when I reached “Mark Lawwell”.
Will finish it, and the comments, later.
Respect to all on here … and the wider Celtic family.
Genuine question, from the article
Why did we part company with Mark Lawwell?
I have heard it all now.
Bonnyrigg Rose have been deducted 6 points because the slope on their pitch is too severe,Who ?I know.,but Kilmarnock get away with playing on concrete.
Scottish Football an joke and a embarrassment HH
In a strange way, I think the doing by Dortmund has helped us. Two pens,e etc etc we were not as bad as result suggests
only my thoughts
67 European cup winners, I enjoy your posts
KINGLUBO on 12th November 2024 6:29 pm
In a strange way, I think the doing by Dortmund has helped us. Two pens,e etc etc we were not as bad as result suggests
watch it again, we were fortunate not to lose 10 goals.
sure we had a few chances to score, but seriously, 5-1 at halftime showed massively poor game management,
hopefully we dont do it again, and lessons have finally been learned.
japanese bhoys.
https://holywellst.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_4602.jpg
my post wasnt a dig at our japanese bhoys
Wear a poppy if you want.
Go to a war memorial if you want.Do you think you are being respectful standing at a football match watching Armed Forces absailing from roofs ,playing bugles whilst marching uniforms place a wreath on the centre circle .Politicians are making stooges out of you ,it’s embarrassing and disrespectful.IMO HH
its was a tribute to those that went before me,
no more, no less
What was some leader today 🤔….brutal
How many hundreds of millions have died, being displaced and opressed by the british empire? How many have had their lands removed from them and their enlightenment. How many languages and cultures have been destroyed by those action?
Lest we forget apply only to the british? Lest we forget indeed. If you want everyone to respect the minute silence make it a silence for all who died.
clunks on 12th November 2024 6:00 pm
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???
——-
Absolutely it was.
And that freedom says we can. Tick.
But, IMHO, just because you can ? … doesn’t mean you should.
As for “providing ammunition to Celtic’s enemies”?
Largely irrelevant as far as I am concerned.
Those who hate us, always will. If not this, will be summat else.
BTB
just because you can ? … doesn’t mean you should
============
Absolutely it does
Sure as shit doesnt mean we catch the amount of outrage we did
The british don’t like talking about uncomfortable facts and history that shows them in a bad light so they focus on a couple of wars, very selective indeed,it’s not like they don’t have plenty of other wars to choose from.
If you want respect from everyone, it starts by respecting others. perhaps acknowledging your wrongs will alter perceptions. Perhaps making remembrance a solelm event rather than a fascist fest and ‘othering’ those who have fell at the hands of the violence ans displacement ffs!!!
Perfect timing for the Daily Mail influenced today. Remembrance Sunday/Weekend/Week/Month? Half Year meets International fitba week.
So much disgust about bad manners and so little for real Genocide.
EK v Ayr BBC Alba
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 12th November 2024 7:18 pm
The media heat is funny because they always go on about their right to report and annoyance when that is breached. But if you happen to be a private person that counters poppy fascism by failing to observe a minute silence or refuse to wear the poppy they demonise you and/ or cancel you. In this case it’s celtic football club and all her supporters. Apparently their rights hold more weight and value than your rights.
Ps having the right to express our views makes it all the more important that we use that right. what is the value of the right you hold if not exercised.
Ps the solder in the great war were fighting for survival and those fighting in subsequent wars done so for money.
Most of the folks that are outraged have no idea why lots of celtic supporters don’t observe the silence, others know exactly why some celtic supporters don’t participate in the silence but play dumb. Both groups consist of a bunch of cunts that i would not be given the time of day. Talk about human decency whilst showing none.
KINGLUBO
Thank You – Dito.
67ECW
Nite y’all.
No Celtic no interest.
No trio of tunes, just a heart burst full of joy.
This is why that mob hate /envy us.
European Cup I Final 1967 | Celtic – Inter Milan | FULL HD 60 fps
https://youtu.be/PNywvrjUmsE?si=cx1KnFSmHlwjf1Ou
Nite ya’all
Stay classy.
Tell your friends, they’ll like it.
It’s good to be a Tim.
An nod to the past.
BRAW
I think paul67 is saying
look out for us spending 10-15 mill on players who will be better than the rest in the spfl but
only the purist’s model will reveal genius
we should keep looking for genius
This is an unfair article Paul.
We operated under your previous model and constantly shrank in Europe. Yes the previous regime brought us some absolute gems, but many of these were players Ange had admired during his time in Japan.. an insight that would increasingly diminish. You talk about players increasing in value, but how much did we actually make on some of our stars? Josip and GG? The only player we sold at a significant profit was a completely out of the blue deadline day sale of Jota. The other sales were a joke.
This window we have permanently signed Bernardo (22) who is a player, Engels (21) who has shone, Idah (23) who provides good backup to Kyogo and gives us a different option, Trusty (26) who has slotted straight into the Celtic defence, McGowan (26) who had played well when called on, Kasper (38) as an immediate replacement and upgrade for Joe Hart (37) and his understudy Viljami Sinisalo (23).
We then signed Valle (20) on loan to provide backup to Taylor to hopefully sign permanently in the future. He has played so well Barca are considering recalling him.
So that’s 5 players under the age of 26.. how are these not development players? Without which we would be nowhere in Europe. We’ve got the money in the bank so why not invest to progress? Do you seriously think we wouldn’t sell any of those players for more than we bought them for?
All the previous regime did was keep us better than the other lot (except for one season when it crumbled)… Or do are we supposed to forget our dismal performances in Europe.
Oh, let’s not mention, that it might be slightly easier to recruit players (for champions League football) when you’re actually doing well in Europe?!
Hi Bhoys
See if Israel want to be in uefa competions and the eurovision why don’t they relocate to Europe? The Isle of Taransay is vacant I believe. Apparently it is only 5 square kilometers smaller than Israel. I dare say all the money that is given to them to assist them in their present abode could be used to facilitate their flitting. Why was this not thought of when the powers that be decided to give the jews a homeland? Would we as a nation welcome them? I’m pretty sure it would stop a lot of killings in the middle east. Then nobody can pick on the Celtic support for supporting the Palestinians and they would have to focus on the poppy debate or the tricolour and pretend it’s not driven by their hatred of our club, traditions or background.
KEEP THE FAITH
“Darwin on 12th November 2024 2:18 pm
We have now reached, God help us, a situation whereby a few hundred fellow travellers are now serving up a narrative on Celtic to the world. ”
Really? I would have thought that the reporting of said narrative reaches a much bigger audience than the chanting of a relatively small number of supporters,
King Lubo,
For decades,Israeli teams have played in Europe.Its not a new thing.UEFA,FIFA,rightly,at the time allowed it to protect the teams.We had the Munich massacre in 1972,at the Olympics,and that was in Germany.It would never have been possible for Israel to play games of any description,unless in Europe.
That’s the reason.Don’t shoot the messenger.
stephbhoy
Get your facts right. Conscription was re-introduced in April 1939 in Great Britain and did not end until those conscripted in 1960 completed their ‘National Service’ in 1963. Northern Ireland was not included. More volunteered from Eire than from Norn in WWII. More of a just war, but now seen moreso as a continuation of WWI after a twenty year armistice.
BTW Pablo, I’d respectfully disagree with this statement.
“There is value in Japan, but since Ange, we have looked elsewhere”
I think we got the best of it.
Three right good uns. Three who didn’t make it.
The one that got away?
Kaoru Mitoma.
If only Eddie Howe had declares 3 weeks earlier.
Declared
Tony Rome,
Forgive me,that is a ridiculous post.
Total disregard for history at that time,and of the present.
Here’s a novel idea,why don’t we deport them to Rwanda.
Turkeybhoy on 12th November 2024 8:46 pm
Tony Rome,
Forgive me,that is a ridiculous post.
Total disregard for history at that time,and of the present.
Here’s a novel idea,why don’t we deport them to Rwanda.
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It was tongue in cheek mate I canny do the emojis
KEEP THE FAITH
tonyrome
without getting techy
:) is happy
;) is taking the pash
You dont need more than that :)
I have no problem with the British honouring their war dead.
However when it is brought into Football Stadia there is an element of compulsion being introduced.
Personally, I wouldn’t disrupt a minutes silence, if I were at a match where it was happening, I would just wait in hospitality or wherever until it was over, before taking my seat.
Like others my Grandad & my Granny’s brother fought in WorldWar 1. Grandad wounded his brother in law killed.
I always include my Gran & Grandad in my prayers, but wouldn’t dream of wearing a Poppy for them.
I honour the Irish men & women who died fighting the British to win Irish Independence, each to their own.
tonyrome
without getting techy
:) is happy
;) is taking the pash
You dont need more than that :)
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Hi Clunks
I know that. I preferred the emojis but I had to get windows reinstalled and I lost that function from my keyboard.
KEEP THE FAITH
Fact is the Arab World did not recognise Israel following UN Resoluiton 181 passed November 29 1947, though a handful have done since. You could not travel to any Arab country on an Israeli passport, and despite originally trying to be part of the Asian football area, opposition by the wider Muslim world eventually led to Israel being admitted to UEFA in the early 1990s. Both Celtic and Scotland have been drawn against Israeli teams of late. Should Israel be allowed to compete in UEFA tournaments at the present time? Absolutely not.
Celtic Mac
That fecking killed the discussion…