LWYRUP. Youth recruitment. Newco cave

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John Beaton was the man who put pressure on referee Don Robertson earlier this month, not Brendan Rodgers.  Robertson had already awarded Celtic a penalty in the game against Hearts when VAR Beaton recommended he rewatch a high boot by Yang, who had already been cautioned for the incident.

Right then we knew the chances of a referee awarding Celtic a penalty, then declining to change his decision after a VAR recommendation was non-existent.  Beaton was left helpless at the Celtic penalty, there was simply nothing he could do about it.  The Yang incident, though, that was an open goal for him.

Celtic arrived at yesterday’s hearing LWYRUP, which was material to the SFA Disciplinary Panel’s decision to award the manager only a one game touchline ban, which he will serve on Sunday against Livingston.  Disappointing, though this is, Brendan will be available to continue his dominance at Ibrox the following week.

The CIES Football Observatory this week issued a report on the average age of recruitment of first team players over 10 transfer windows (to July 2019) for over 800 clubs in the world’s top 48 leagues.  It’s a fascinating read and documents a period after an incredible change at Celtic.

The Red Bull stable are unwavering in their commitment to The System.  RB Salzburg top the table (ave. age 20.93 yrs) and RB Bragantino (Brazil) are second.  Also in the world’s top 30 are RB Leipzig and New York RB.

Salzburg have taught the world how to recruit on a budget.  They sign lots of young players, develop them through a collaborative network, then bring their graduates to the first team, before selling them on and promoting the next generation.  The only UK clubs in the top 30 are Liverpool and Brighton, two impressive examples of how recruitment should be done.

Scotland’s highest entrants were Hibernian (41st) and Celtic (59th, ave. age 23.53 yrs).  59th out of over 800 is a high placing.  It would be higher still without the likes of Kolo Toure and Scott Sinclair.  I know what you’re thinking – don’t say a word against Scott Sinclair.

Scott was a stand-out in the Celtic team which won the first of our Quadruple Trebles; without him, one of the most historic periods of our history may not have happened.  But there is a cost of this success.  While we were spending money on Scott’s wages, Salzburg were signing hordes of teenage talent.  Most of those would not make the grade (few as spectacularly as Kolo at Celtic), but this is always the way in football.

Apart from that Quadruple Treble, our most common 21st century reference point is the Martin O’Neill era.  Martin transformed us from always-underdogs to always-favourites.  He remains an inspiration.  But Martin recruited old men with no notion of what tomorrow would bring.

Sign them at their peak and let them leave when they’re done.  It was exciting, but despite all the trophies and European runs, we lost money every season Martin was here, as we marched a pace behind David Murray’s Rangers towards the cliff.

Change came just in time.  Spend was curtailed and the club built a recruitment strategy which did not rely on Match of the Day.  Murray’s Rangers, gloriously, stepped over the edge alone.

This season has seen us commit to a plan Salzburg would endorse.  We are not as good as them (yet), but honestly, if you think there is an alternative strategy that would better serve our interests, you have an unhealthy need for short term fixes.

Celtic and Newco have agreed to allow around 3,000 visiting fans at their games after Celtic insisted on having a safe segregated area of Ibrox or nothing at all.  After years of torment, Newco reduced Celtic’s allocation to 800 tickets (Celtic responded in kind).  Celtic fans were left vulnerable in a corner of Ibrox and had to egress from the area through usually unhappy Newco fans.  In the stadium, Celtic fans were subject to missile attack from above, while the journey home was far from pleasant.  Eventually, Celtic decided it better to have no visiting fans at these games than allowing an unsafe situation to continue.

There will be some satisfaction at this decision, however, the devil is in the detail.  I have been going to Ibrox since the days we got half of the old enclosure but only a third of the stand above; missile attacks from above have been around that long.  Make it safe or don’t have Celtic fans there.

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358 Comments

  1. bigrailroadblues on

    St Stivs

     

    Fascinating research, much appreciated.

     

    And a good afternoon to all from the Victoria Bar.

  2. bigrailroadblues on

    Rolled in like a bag of laundry after midnight, was pleasantly surprised that the small doll didn’t beat me up with a blunt weapon. Ain’t love grand?

  3. 67 European Cup Winners on

    Watching on Hibs TV Just seen Huns penalty awarded after VAR

     

    To say the game is fixed is an understatement

     

     

    Hibs commentators (not sure who they are)

     

    Both saying never a penalty but we are at Ibrox

     

     

    Its a real worry – Huns have more help than ever before

     

     

    67ECW

  4. Tavpen scores after hun 1st goal disallowed for encroachment.

     

    Sky sports news update

  5. dodgy pen and 7 mins injury time – they got the same against ross county. This league is a so blatant. If celtic pay lawyers, it should be for analysis into outliers and decisions. Its been going on way too long to the point its just accepted as normal!@

  6. the long wait is over on

    Stepboy

     

     

    Lynott 67

     

     

    You’re such cynics.

     

     

    You’re not suggesting , are you, that had rangers been a goal up rather than drawing then less injury time would have been given?

     

     

    Go and wash your mouths out with soap the pair of you.

     

     

    Ps

     

     

    From Wiki on a famous game from the 60’s ( Berwick rangers 1 rangers 0)

     

     

    “Legend has it that in the 94th minute, Greig had asked referee Eddie Thomson for another couple of minutes but was told “I’ve already given you four”.

  7. I e been forecasting all week this will finish 2-2. Let’s hope so!

     

     

    Hate these cheating Masonic bassas!

     

     

    Surely something has to be done before they are handed this title on a plate? Waiting until after is futile.

     

     

    We need to highlight the cheating now in all the media outlets and see if they can carry it on under proper scrutiny.

     

     

    Absolutely scunnered by the cheating this season. If they win the league, I’m done with Scottish football. As they’ve been aided and abetted at every step for. Their pals in the SFA. Whereas, we’ve been hindered every step of the way.

     

     

    Imagine successful we’d be if it was a level lying field?

  8. Long wait . Cheers pal . I seen a picture of him a month or so ago with a Masonic past masters board behind him . It’s how to get on .

  9. I also had a feeling Hibs could get a draw today .

     

    Will be an interesting second half .

  10. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    An early nothing penalty to the huns.

     

     

    Hibs equalise. 7th minute of injury time in the first half. SEVENTH. IN THE FIRST HALF!!!

     

     

    Crawford Allan remains in place till the end of the season with no incentive to even provide the appearance of playing fair.

     

     

    The game is rigged. Check out Thursday’s special ACSOM episode if you’re any doubt.

     

     

    And Crawford Allan left in place to do his worst with no further consequences.

     

     

    As victories go this looks to be pyrrhic one.

  11. the long wait is over on

    PetetLatchfords…

     

     

    “As victories go this looks to be pyrrhic one.”

     

     

    Every domestic trophy of theirs is.

     

     

    Imagine how worthless each one would – or at least should – feel if you knew you had been given unfair advantages at every turn?

  12. the long wait is over on

    Bada

     

     

    Uber Hun Kenny McIntyre practically begging them to say it’s a penalty…

  13. the long wait is over on

    Bada.

     

     

    One for the scrapbooks.

     

     

    Apart from anything else rangers player was miles from ever getting to that ball.

  14. THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 30TH MARCH 2024 4:31 PM

     

    Bada

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Uber Hun Kenny McIntyre

     

     

    i didnt know what this fella looked like, but he does answer the old question ..

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ————–

  15. the long wait is over on

    Not officially over but might as well be.

     

     

    See what a wee helping hand does jsut when you need it…