The glut of youth players we have lost to England and Germany in recent years is disappointing but feels far from critical. Great talent seldom emerges above the background noise in the teenage years. For some, it takes a lot longer.
Henrik Larsson was 25 and had endured a season spent mainly as a Feyenoord substitute in 1997. He contemplated returning to Sweden when Wim Jansen took him to Scotland. That development story seems inconceivable; Henrik always had talent, he played a World Cup semi-final three years earlier, but his value was far from obvious, even in a tier two league.
Kyogo was four months older than Henrik when he arrived in Glasgow and had been first choice at Vissel Kobe for just 2.5 years. Vissel took a £150k punt on him from the third tier. His reputation in Europe is still vastly greater than in Japan, where he is a national team outlier.
There is a lot of snobbery in football. Half the scouts in Europe had watched and overlooked Larsson before he came to Celtic. How good could a player that has been watched that many times actually be? He was just shy of his 33rd birthday when Barcelona eventually moved.
I am hopeful we hold onto our double Player of The Year for similar reasons. Kyogo has ‘done it’ in Scotland, but so has Kevin van Veen, the 31-year-old Motherwell great and Scunthorpe journeyman. Snobbery will count against Kyogo, as will his slight build, at least until he troubles goalkeepers in the Champions League.
That day could be here within four months, but before then, Michael Nicholson will want to address the biggest challenge he faces, extending Kyogo’s contract beyond 2025.
The Road to Seville cyclists are nearing the end of their incredible journey. After a greulling day through the Spanish mountains yesterday, they have a more modest 44 mile journey to Talavera de Reina, which is just about the middle point in the country.
More importantly, their efforts have already raised over £64k for the Celtic FC Foundation. That’s an incredible sum which will help the Foundation carry out its life-enhancing work. Today we hear from cyclist Clare Sweeney and Foundation chief executive, Tony Hamilton. They share the values which inspire them in their football and daily lives, and bear witness to what this Celtic thing is all about.
I hope you enjoy the interview. You can donate to the team’s efforts here and follow their progress on Twitter here. Thank you all your support.
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From a very limited knowledge base, did the Scotland rugby team not become vastly improved when they started playing kiwis and aussises ?
SAINT STIVS
It’s been South Africans lately that have improved the rugby team. To be fair though just about every country has benefited from the residency rule that was brought in some years back
SAINT STIVS on 16TH MAY 2023 12:45 PM
Next seasons league champions get direct entry to the new Champions League format.
As far as i’m led to believe, the winner of the SPFL 23/24 hasn’t been confirmed as getting direct entry to the new CL format.
BORGO67 and RIMTIMTIM
Cheers guys……
When there is not much to reply to on this site, we usually get a comment about PL.I always think on these occasions, how many of the contributors have actually spoken to Peter and found out what he thinks or takes part in.
Jeez how quickly our heroes are forgotten in time,
Even tho his football was timeless
If Bobby plays Celtic do
https://twitter.com/CollowWillie/status/1658038845546397698?t=FHDxkZglM8aEAP5M2u7m3A&s=19
22 years gone.Rip Bobby murdoch
HH
Bert Kassies most excellent website –
Access List 2024/25 (to be confirmed), but almost certain, Scotland wont overtake Belgium to go into 8th ranking, but neither will Austria overtake Scotland 10th to 9th.
Even so 10th Rank still has a CL GROUP PLACE for the champions.
————–
Scotland – 9TH position.
Champions – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE QUALIFICATION
League Runners up – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER ROUND 3
(then playoff round and guaranteed EUROPA League group)
Cup Winners – EUROPA LEAGUE PLAY OFF
(drop to Conference Group)
League 3rd Place – EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFIER ROUND 2.
League 4th Place – CONFERENCE LEAGUE QUALIFIER ROUND 2
Leicester City cancelled the statue of Brendan Rodgers but he’s apparently offered to buy it himself.
“CONNAIRE12 on 16TH MAY 2023 2:07 PM
When there is not much to reply to on this site, we usually get a comment about PL.I always think on these occasions, how many of the contributors have actually spoken to Peter and found out what he thinks or takes part in.”
Well said.
I doubt any of them have ever had a converstion with PL. On the other hand, I am confident all our Managers have had many converstions with him and all I have heard from them is praise for PL.
Who is in a better position to judge?
Scanning the qualification route for Scotland non champions, what a blessing it is to go straight to the group stage.
Who is in already –
(TH) – the winners of CL this season.
(EL) – the winners of the Europa League
England Manchester City (1st/2nd)
England Arsenal (1st/2nd)
England (3rd)
England (4th)
Spain Barcelona (1st)
Spain Real Madrid (2nd/3rd/4th)
Spain (2nd/3rd)
Spain (3rd/4th)
Italy Napoli (1st)
Italy (2nd)
Italy (3rd)
Italy (4th)
Germany Bayern Munich (1st/2nd)
Germany Borussia Dortmund (1st/2nd)
Germany (3rd)
Germany (4th)
France (1st)[Note FRA]
France (2nd)[Note FRA]
Portugal Benfica (1st/2nd)
Portugal (1st/2nd)
Netherlands Feyenoord (1st)
Austria (1st)
Scotland Celtic (1st)
Serbia Red Star Belgrade (1st)
There is nothing whatsoever stopping us having a net spend of £20 million this year ….I hope I’m not disappointed…again!!!!
I have the fear ,
looking at who is in the CL again.
No matter who we buy every other team almost is stronger by some squad distance.
It is a daunting prospect.
Everyone on the HTCS ,guaranteed a ticket for the final
Celtic have announced that the crucial Celtic Women v Hearts Women match on Sunday has been moved from Airdrie to Celtic Park with free access to Season Ticket holders and under-16s.
A very wise move indeed. I’ll be taking my grandkids.
BADA BING
Do you know when the Cup Final tickets go on sale?
Final tickets on sale tomorrow from 10am
VINNIETHEDOG @ 2:30 PM,
Exactly!!
Hail Hail
PRESTONPANS BHOYS @ 2:43 PM,
I see we signed up a young “prospect” from Portobello
Hail Hail
!!BADA BING!! on 16TH MAY 2023 2:36 PM
Everyone on the HTCS ,guaranteed a ticket for the final
————-
Inverness have been allocated 10,000.
Half the rangers end and only the bottom tier of the south stand (main stand).
They are selling their allocation in blocks, that will allow for unsold sections in the south stand to be reallocated to celtic.
Till today season ticket holders were allowed to buy 8 TICKETS EACH.
So i am guessing they have 1,000 season ticket holders, with average home attendance of 2,277.
Ok, the whole of the highlands get to go to the big game. They went on public sale today.
Meanwhile all of the Celtic allocation, 34,000, allows for EVERY PERSON on the HCTS to get a ticket, Good,
and another 6,000 in the main south stand will go to debenture holders, sponsors and hospitality tickets on the day, most will be celtic supporters.
I am looking forward to a treble, and why not.
Chairbhoy
I missed that news, who was it can’t see anything
A wee scout around the Inverness ticketing site.
Ok, I had to login with a new secret identity in keeping with the inverness theme i went undercover as Highland Paddy, they will never work it out.
So the website tells me there are busses laid on £30 return, 2x under 16s can go free with every fee paying adult, that is good value i would say. So much for the kick off time, and train travel, evryone can come by bus easily enough.
The wee bit off putting is busses will return from Hampden car park 30 minutes after final whistle, not much time for a celebration there.
Also, public ticket sale comes up with a wee helpful comments box “the area you selected was last purchased an hour ago”.
I think they will be handing sections back, if there are empty seats it will be a damned disgrace.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS
I should have checked my emails.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS
https://videocelts.com/2023/05/blogs/latest-news/celtic-beat-leeds-and-newcastle-to-sign-teenage-striker/
Porty Bhoy
Big push on for woman’s game :-)
https://twitter.com/NCCeltic/status/1658446850528083971?t=QE08S1b3NxVw5blzTjnxKA&s=19
HH
Tom
I’ve already made a complete (.)(.) of myself on that email. Firstly didn’t notice all hcts members got a ticket and told the bus to check their emails, secondly tried buying immediately online and failed to see the online time and date.
Need to stop reading emails on a wee phone and use the tablet 🫣
Tom McLaughlin on 16th May 2023 2:40 pm
BADA BING
Do you know when the Cup Final tickets go on sale?
HTCS Members from 10am tomorrow
Thanks Bada
bloody logon in here is doing my head in
I missed out on ballots for League Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final. Good to receive an email from club advising that I have been allocated a ticket for the final.
Happy days.
It’s a tall order hoping ICT sell their allocation, could end up with a general sale too!
That awkward moment when………..
SAINT STIVS on 16TH MAY 2023 2:16 PM
Bert Kassies most excellent website –
Access List 2024/25 (to be confirmed), but almost certain, Scotland wont overtake Belgium to go into 8th ranking, but neither will Austria overtake Scotland 10th to 9th.
Even so 10th Rank still has a CL GROUP PLACE for the champions.
____________________________________________________
Cheers for the update. Qualification for that looks like being worth a guaranteed £40M+ to the league winners.
Paisley Road West is closed on Sunday as the 2nd Rangers are celebrating finishing second with an open top bus parade and after event riot in george square to celebrate the coronation and under 12s regional cup double.
The St Etienne bike has turned up again on Gumtree
a slight annoyance but I am playing catch up on all things Celtic , so riddle me this, ……
by what measure was Tillman chosen as Young Player of the year over Matt O’Riley ?
was it simply a spilt vote for the celts ?
————–
Matt had 14 goal contrbutions.
Tillman had 14.
Matt has pass completion of 84%,
tillman had 78%
Matt created 64 chances in 35 games.
Tillman 42 chances in 28 games.
He scored more, bus assisted less.
feckin cheats.
———–
and anothe rthing.
Cantwell should have got player of the year according to many on here he has “bossed the celtic midfield” utter tosh.
Interesting to see Adidas not just sponsoring Celtic FC but some of our supporters an all.
Only season ticket holders need apply for the freebie mind. Which is ….. nice.
Not clear if prawn sandwiches are on the menu at this point. Could be.
RoyKeaneCSC
next womans football at celtic park.
call me an old cynic but …………….
Sure the 9,900 record busting attendance was the biggest ever, fact.
But nobody paid to get in, a freebie on the season ticket, I am interested in the “adidas covered the costs ” angle, how so did they pick up same price as a game at aidrie and give celtic the money ?
or the cost of switching the lights on and hosting the game ?
I listened to the NC THE CELTIC END podcast.
Sure these groups generated a great atmosphere, but there is an agenda there. It is not to support the ladies game, it is to promote their CELTIC END aspirations and to show what it might be.
Displacing other longterm fans from the Jock stein lower matters not a jot.
I would be ok in principle with a much bigger standing section somewhere, but how do you compensate others forced to move ?
As an aside, should the womens team be paid something like our male stars ? equal pay and all that ?
Back to adidas, i do think they like this new femail fanbase as potential consumers, that is it.
saint stivs
Wouldn’t say ‘nobody paid to get in’.