Kyogo, icon who made Scotland a better place

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This impact Kyogo made on Celtic is difficult to overestimate.  He cost three times more than any of our other recent players from Japan and established his credentials a week after touching down in Scotland.  In August 2021, Celtic were trophyless and at their lowest point this century.

Kyogo was the spark that ignited the club.  His perpetual motion, enthusiasm, selflessness and his goals, mostly his goals, gave us cause to hope for the future.  He also gave us 8 out of 10 trophies contested during his time in Glasgow.

His first virtuoso performance delivered a hattrick against Dundee.  We thought we were onto something special, but dare not dream of the levels he delivered.  Kyogo enjoys a big game and took special delight in scoring against Newco.  Including an incredible seven goals in 2023.  He terrorised them at Celtic Park, Hampden and Ibrox.

With him on the field, you could be playing badly, but knew something special could happen at any moment.  His hattrick of disallowed goals against Young Boys on Wednesday apparently bookends his time as an active Celtic icon.  His inactive icon status will last decades, though.

Without doubt, he is the best since Henrik Larsson – the only appropriate reference point.  We waited 20 years between the departure of Kenny Dalglish and Larsson’s arrival.  The 17 years between Henrik and Kyogo were filled with some great Celtic strikers, but none possessed the sheer magic of Kyogo.

It wasn’t just his play.  The man picked up litter, comforted injured opponents and wherever he went, made Scotland a better place.  I cannot see someone throw litter away without contrasting them to our hero.  He was an example of how to work hard and live your life.  And there was that smile.

I have been preaching Asset Management here for decades.  ‘Manage your assets or fail to manage your assets’.  Fans like you and I have sporting heroes, but Michael Nicholson’s job (as well as being a fan) is to manage our assets.  A reported fee of £10m for a player who turned 30 this month and had a significantly less effective 2024 than 2023 is Tier One asset management.

I only hope we do not backfill with one of Brendan’s agent pals’ players, or someone he watched a while back but is now out of favour in the English Championship.

Best of luck to Kyogo in France.  Despite his horrendous performance last night Jack Butland will be a happy man today.

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  1. bournesouprecipe on

    GENE @ 8.03

     

     

    Precisely.

     

     

    Paul67’s Blog and he’d be the one and only Blog owner, that didn’t receive criticism. Every Celtic supporter has the same open forum.

     

     

    Puerile comments within a tribute to a parting player, fair set the tone and also spoiled his article. Fortunately, there are only a couple of regular posters who back his every word.

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers comments within the presser are the ones to look out for, where he backs Celtic with praise for the plans that have been set for the transfer market.

     

     

    FWIW I reckon Kyogo was talked out of leaving last summer and Wednesday’s three points were a green light for his inevitable departure. Celtic and BR are busy with a replacement, dissing or mocking the player before he gets here is anti Celtic.

  2. lets all do the huddle on

    the Stewartfield residents (who would never say they live in EK) will be raging that those who they see as EK peasants are coming into their place and blocking the town in their down-market 2 wheel drive jalopies

  3. Badabing.

     

     

     

    Yup boat came over this morning,as McPhail bhoy said Donegal/Derry csc left thro the night.

     

     

    Dena ex of this parish heard while on the boat so now on return journey left at noon.

     

     

    Surely,a gesture made would be a good thing to those travelling

     

     

    HH

  4. HJ- superficial damage to the outside banners around a part of the stadium, pictures of part of the roof on a couple of rows of seats near the front of a stand

  5. Re Paul’s comments.

     

     

    His blog his views. It’s not just the views that Paul has put up. Everyone has the right to post and he has created a blog that has been a godsend to Celtic supporters.

     

    Whether I agree or disagree with the statement is irrelevant it’s the nature of the comment.

     

    He has the right to criticise players, managers, coaches or the board, we all have our views. But this is the first time in many years of reading CQN that Paul’s post has felt petty and vindictive.

     

    There have been many arguments and spats on the blog but I always thought that Paul managed to stay above that level. Not going to flounce.. I’m just a bit disappointed by the tone…

  6. Todays postponement gives us 3 days respite but it does now ensure we are on a Saturday Wednesday Saturday treadmill again until the international break at end of March.

     

     

    Assuming we do get to last 16 stage of CL. If not then it still takes us to early March.

     

     

    Unless of course we do get results going our way on Wednesday and miraculously achieve Top 8.

     

     

    Good problems if we do get the squad depth right.

  7. garygillespieshamstring on

    Bada

     

     

    According to sky sports team news, Tierney is on the bench for Arsenal today.

  8. Paul 67

     

    “I only hope we do not backfill with one of Brendan’s agent pals’ players, or someone he watched a while back but is now out of favour in the English Championship.”

     

     

    What is so terrible about that comment?

     

    A tad negativeI I accept but worthy of the much more negativity on display in quite a few comments on here?

  9. Fanadpatriot

     

     

    If you are going to resort to personal abuse of other posters then that is your decision but could at least learn to quote them properly.

     

     

    My interest is only on the success of Celtic……short, medium and long term. It is really simple. No space for heroes or egos. They are transient and not worth attaching myself to. I learned that with David Hay (my early favourite and now a friend), Lou Macari and King Kenny. I was reminded of it again with Mo Johnston. Celtic now and for the future matters to me.

     

     

    I was close to both rangers and Celtic in a professional capacity in the 2002-2009 and saw up close how an ego led rangers ( Murray and Advocaat destroyed themselves ). Celtic pursued a different strategy, a humble one and one which delivered without ego. 2 CL last 16s and wins v some of the best in the world. A strategy which helped build the platform we enjoy today.

     

     

    Personally I don’t want any individual or ego to lose us this positon. Even more so as I see that lot across the city finally taking their medicine.

     

     

    Hope this clarifies my thinking. I do get short term success is everything for some too. Especially those in management roles. That is totally understandable.

  10. 67 European Cup Winners on

    Hot Smoke @ 2.01

     

     

    Nothing wrong with the comment in isolation

     

    But it’s another of many digs at Brendan

     

    Paul67 (and or PL) not a fan of Brendan and he regularly has a dig

     

    Unfortunate unfounded unnecessary

     

     

    But it is his blog and I for one am grateful for him

     

     

    67ECW

  11. Match Postponement.

     

    The game should have been cancelled yesterday.

     

    I was with a few of the lads from Donegal in the Sportsbar on Wednesday before the match. One of the guys was 78 and goes to every home game on the bus. He told me he was going to the Dundee game today as well.

     

    I know they weren’t home until 5am on Thursday and left this morning at 4:30 for today’s game.

     

    The club should have a bit more thought for the travelling fans. They deserve better.

  12. bigrailroadblues on

    Good afternoon all from Babbity Bowsers with the Dublin layabout Almore. Shipbank next stop.👍

  13. A return to Broadwood Stadium this afternoon with

     

    @CelticFCB

     

    the visitors

     

     

    📅 MATCHDAY

     

    ⚽Celtic B

     

    ⏰ 3pm

     

    🌍Broadwood Stadium

     

    🏆Lowland League

     

    💸 £10 Adult / £5 | U16’s free entry with paying adult | U12’s to be accompanied by adult f

  14. garygillespieshamstring on

    Is it within the gift of the club to unilaterally take a decision to postpone a match in those circumstances or does it require the involvement of the SPFL or the local authority to say the ground is unsafe before a match csn be cancelled?

     

     

    I agree that the game should have been postponed last night, but am unsure I who takes the decision.

  15. BRB you better text Jota and let him know , he might pop into the Brazen Head …😂😂😜😜

  16. From a selfish point of view, quite glad the game is off today as we’ve been without electricity since 10a.m. Yesterday morning and not expecting it back till after midnight tonight…so phone about to go off as I’ve used the last of the power banks and, therefore, would not have been able to follow the game on CQN.

     

    Couldn’t stomach shorty, so best would have been updates on 5Live.

     

    Oh, and we’re now sharing the kitchen stove with the sulcatta tortoises. Lots of fun!!!

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