Last month Russell Martin told the media that his mum called him worried about how he is coping in Glasgow (just fine, apparently). That may reassure her, but not even Mrs Martin will believe her son can win the title this season. Dreams of their son taking the league from Celtic this season are the reserve of Mrs McInnes, who like Mrs Thelin a year ago, must be entertaining the great fantasy.
Hearts fans know better than to indulge in such thoughts. Not until the last whistle of the season is blown and perhaps a few minutes later (in case VAR spots something) would they get their hopes up, the shadow of Albert Kidd still casts over Tynecastle. Hearts fans are conditioned by their past, they have no reference for their present opportunity.
If they are not a genuine challenger this season, they will be soon. Last season they finished seventh in the Premiership, having dismissed two permanent managers and seen the campaign out with an interim boss. The appointment of Derek McInnes and a total summer spend of £2.6m is all that’s happened since. That’s how little money and managerial brilliance their transformation has taken.
That £2.6m was guided by Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics, McInnes was not the decision maker. Like Hearts fans’ conditioning, analytics are backward looking. They cannot tell you what fortune lies ahead in a game which involves so much good and bad fortune (thinking Jota’s injury here). They have a go at predicting how a player will cope away from home, but that data is limited on this and many other subjects. Mistakes are be made.
Notwithstanding that, analytics is the future. Clubs who maximise their development will ruthlessly rely on data. Those anchored to the manager’s agent network, experienced scouts and ‘an eye for a player’ will perish. Successful clubs will harvest players before they have a successful profile (thinking Oh Hyeon-gyu here), they will never compete with Ajax for a deadline day signing (sigh).
It is possible for Celtic to implode for various reasons but I seriously doubt anyone can put a glove on us this season. If, though, you ever want to see the fabled 10, there is a lot of work to do. Teams who lose reorientate a lot faster than winners. That will happen and Tynecastle and Ibrox with some urgency each season until they win. We are entitled to enjoy laughing at the folly of others (have a word with yourself if you think otherwise), but the challenge is in the post. Not only from Tynecastle.
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The challenge is to remove our backward thinking board and absentee landlord and replace them with individuals who are able to drag us into the present day.
Does the Postman always ring twice?
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full @ 10:52 am,
Good stuff as per…
“… the Celtic Board have simply not done a good enough job explaining the complexity behind the headline perception …
… let alone explaining any strategy.”
Well, they made a fist of if a week and a bit ago…
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/september/06/celtic-football-club-statement/
One thing is clear, they can’t explain it.
IMO, it’s because of one main reason.
Celtic PLC’s strategy is based on using player sales as revenue.
It’s not that they can’t explain that strategy, it’s because it’s their dirty little secret and they don’t want to admit it.
– Every penny will go back into the club
– Our aim is Champions League qualification every season
– We are striving to make a World Class football club.
Not true, none of it, little evidence to support these claims, lots of evidence to support the view they are using player trading as a revenue stream.
=============================
Here was our recruitment the last time we went for the fabled ten…
Patryk Klimala
Chrispher Jullien
Jeremie Frimpong
Ismalia Soro
Luca Connell
Abd Hamed
Greg Taylor
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo
Vasilis Cornelius Barkas
Jonathan Afolabi
Lee O’Connor
Luca Connell
Albian Ajeti
David Turnbull
The more things change eh!!
Hail Hail
Sounds as though the dinosaurs and cowards in the padded seats are the biggest barrier to future success at Celtic.
Perhaps new blood is required
The challenge of CL qualification has already popped through our letterbox and the warning letter has carelessly been chucked in the bin along with the Domino’s Pizza flyer .
Time to raise our sights .
The challenge is definitely in the post and we don’t need dinosaur tactics from the Boardroom. Which is what we’ll get from P67’s pals.
I welcome the challenge.
I’m unconvinced we are ready for it, however.
Couldn’t disagree more. The biggest challenge to Celtic will come from Celtic.
What’s the ambition? If it was to be competitive in the Champions League our points total in the league would be well out of the reach of any other team.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 16th September 2025 10:52 am
“The only clarity has come from Auldheid.
On that basis? (Deadly serious here) … put him on the board.”
What did he ever do to you to deserve that? ;)
The challenge certainly will be in the post if we do not invest in a timely manner.
If we do not improve our own analytics, strategy, processes, and timeliness of our recruitment then of course a challenge will emerge.
Yep, we need to modernise our governance and football operations asap!
Glenowen on 16th September 2025 12:07 pm
“Sounds as though the dinosaurs and cowards in the padded seats are the biggest barrier to future success at Celtic.”
I’d have our football environment top of the list of our barriers to success, beyond domestic success.
I note Kelechi was very diplomatic when asked about the chance to join us in January. I guess that it wouldn’t do supporter relations much good to say “I didn’t fancy SPFL footie when I had any other option but given I didn’t do too well at Middlesborough I didn’t have any better options this summer”.
Absolute claptrap from start to finish … but dangerous claptrap.
Because there is no doubt whatsoever that an SPFL level manager and a £2.3 million transfer spend and signings based on analytics and data is EXACTLY what some people want our future to look like.
So be aware; this is not our host talking on his own terms. This IS the plan, to hitch ourselves to a strategy that was out of date even when it was in fashion.
Read that again. All of it. No top class manager required. No scouting network needed. Apparently you can win titles with a third rate boss spending hardly anything at all if you read the data right.
Magical thinking at its finest. Fantasy land codswallop.
“It is possible for Celtic to implode for various reasons but I seriously doubt anyone can put a glove on us this season.”
Errr, Kairat Almaty???
CHAIRBHOY
“One thing is clear, they can’t explain it”
I’ve explained it to you three times.
Hrvatski Jim
Not forgetting a rock bottom huns team depriving us of 2 points .
The Huns have made some really appalling decisions – “shocking” recruitment and a mind blowing appointmentem
Teams with the most money will win…99 times out of 100
“Successful clubs will harvest players before they have a successful profile (thinking Oh Hyeon-gyu here), they will never compete with Ajax for a deadline day signing (sigh).”
Harvesting players before they have a successful profile must be very complex.
Oh Hyeon-gyu is now a first team starter for Genk, which is great for the lad, a Korea NT starter will really mean a lot – yet his stats are still not superb and still not at the UCL holy grail level, after 2 yrs 9 months development in Europe.
If that’s the best our system could come up with then we would certainly struggle.
I’m interested in two of our recent signings.
Nic Kuhn obviously was ticking the boxes on our analytics, but it was when BR&Co studied the prospective Celt that they seen some real potential.
As he signed Brendan Rodgers talked of the players strengthens and how Celtic were going to develop him, they did exactly what it said on the tin – surely a lesson learned.
An even better lesson might be young Tounekti.
Eight months ago he was bought for 1.5 mn, his value has soared in the intervening time.
It seemed we paid over the odds to secure his services, yet, many of us are seeing an eight figure player in a few years time.
Maybe, the time to strike is not before players have a successful profile, but when their profile begins to expotentially rise.
Hitting that curve at the sweet spot, when he’s still within Celtic’s budget.
Analytics, no doubt have their place but football intelligence is by far and away, still the best predictor of talent.
Celtic40Me on 16th September 2025 12:35 pm,
Right, appreciate your patience, could you try a fourth.
Hail Hail
Notthebus
Possibly a bit less if they don’t spend it!
Certainly, Hearts form seems to back up P67s assertions that Bloom’s data approach will triumph.
But there’s a lot of football to be played before the title’s won.
What is stark in ra article, is how well they’re performing on meagre new resources worth under 3mill.
They sold Penrice for £2.3m. Net spendage 700k.
Evidently, Deek is earning his managerial and coaching corn over in Tyney with freebies, loans and cheapies.
More impressive than our show to date. But we will get much better.
——-
PS: Aussie TV just screened a doco about the new troubles in Ballymena where the spirit of EveryoneAnyone seems alive – as long as the slogan refers to ‘outsiders’ to hate. First I’d heard of it: Grim !
No sense putting a 2nd class stamp on a 1st class strategy…😉😜
I’ll tell you what’s “fantasy land codswallop” – a “movement” looking to change things when it has a rabble-rousing attention seeker, whose main motivation is to monetise Celtic fans by hoping shock-jock tactics can drive traffic to his web sites, associated with them.
Celtic40Me @ 12:35 pm,
“CHAIRBHOY
“One thing is clear, they can’t explain it”
I’ve explained it to you three times.”
Not meaning to pry on your identity at all but what do you do at Celtic?
Hail Hail
The Huns have made some really appalling decisions – “shocking” recruitment and a mind blowing appointments buy they have a completely new set up who don’t appear to understand Scottish football. So you’d expect their improvements to take a bit longer
At Hearts while its very early days in Tony Blooms project you can’t write off the immediate improvements as good luck. Industry leading data analytics and the right manager who seems happy to get on with his job have shown the rest of Scottish football up a bit. It didn’t take that much, Bloom is an impressive football guy but he’s not exactly performing magic tricks, just committing totally to a winning formula
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 16th September 2025 1:00 pm
So you are happy with things as they stand with the club then?
CHAIRBHOY on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2025 1:00 PM
You said they can’t explain it. They can, it’s straightforward, you don’t need to work there to get it.
I don’t have the data to hand, but…
I’ve a sneaky suspicion that Hearts – like Aberdeen last season – are overperforming their xG. That is, they’ve got more points than their performances ordinarily merit.
Football’s wonder is the randomness woven through its fabric. Hearts are off to a flyer, no doubt, but I’m not convinced they’ll stay ahead of the odds for a whole season. You need Ranieri levels of luck for that.
“Not meaning to pry on your identity”
Prys on identity
Way too much confidence that this Celtic squad with 8 EL games and everything else will win the League this year, I hope they do that’s all I have.
I would like to see us improve our route to 1st team.
It is great seeing Donovan coming through,but I worry for all these youngsters and their chance to get into the 1st team.
We need a strong route to the 1st team
All spl teams should have a reserve team partaking in a reserve league.
We need a strong route to success for our youth teams into our reserve and 1st teams.
We need to campaign for this for all clubs.
If we don’t change our league structure we will continue to buy in players and that could be affected by our future income.
HH
Terrific, enjoyable, entertaining leader Paul
Future tense is going some heavy lifting though
(Search for “will” – you’ll get numerous hits)
I’m persauded genuine Data Analytics will improve squad capacity and performance.
But most of the current adopters, including a few who’ve been blooming (geddit?) for years … are improving and sustaining but not winning trophies.
(USG’s one title being the exception)
To what extent are Liverpool, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern immersing themselves in this?
Genuine question. I know not the answer.
The challenge has been to keep Sevco relevant since their inception.
Blueprint for Maintaining a Sustainable Duopoly
Primary Objective: To ensure the long-term commercial viability of the club and the league by artificially maintaining a competitive rivalry (the duopoly), while simultaneously building an unassailable financial moat that protects the club from any genuine threat.
Core Conflict: A faction on the board, including a key member with a personal grievance against the manager, views the manager’s ambition for total dominance as a threat to this carefully balanced strategy. The manager’s success would break the duopoly and, in their view, harm the product. Their personal animosity makes them willing to actively hinder his progress.
Key Principle: All actions must be framed under the plausible public relations banner of “Sustainable Model,” “Prudent Governance,” and “Long-Term Project.” This provides cover for decisions that have a short-term detrimental sporting effect.
The Method: How The Board Executes The Plan
1. The Transfer Strategy: Strategic Weakening
Asset Stripping: Continue the publicized model of selling the club’s best, most established players. This is marketed as “smart business” and “maximizing value.”
Inadequate Reinvestment: Reinvest only a fraction of the income (e.g., £10m from a £30m+ sale). The significant profit is banked to grow the club’s financial safety net (£100m+).
The Misdirection Signing: Replace sold stars with a higher quantity of younger, cheaper “project players” from overseas leagues. Publicly, this is sold as “building for the future” and “finding hidden gems.” Privately, it introduces inconsistency, ensuring the team has periods of vulnerability that allow the rival to compete.
Blocking Key Signings: Avoid signing the proven, league-ready quality that the manager identifies as essential to achieve dominance. These players are deemed “too expensive” or “not fitting the model,” preventing the team from becoming too powerful.
2. Information Control & Narrative Warfare
Plausible Deniability: The board never admits the duopoly plan. Every decision is justified through the language of financial prudence and sustainability. They position themselves as responsible custodians against a manager portrayed as a reckless spender.
The “Unknown Source”: A senior board member (the one with the personal grievance) uses trusted media contacts to anonymously brief against the manager. They leak stories questioning his tactics, his man-management, and his gratitude, painting him as the problem for “making excuses.”
Creating Division: The goal of the briefing is to split the fanbase. While a large portion (us) sees the truth and backs the manager, the leaks are designed to create a loud minority who blame the manager for results, thus protecting the board from unified fan outrage.
3. Structural Manipulation
Power Dilution: Ensure the manager does not have final say on transfers. Control is vested in a “Technical Director” or “Transfer Committee” filled with board-aligned figures. This isolates the manager from recruitment, the primary tool for hindering progress.
Investment in Non-Team Assets: Champion large-scale investments in infrastructure (stadium upgrades, luxury suites, training grounds). These are tangible, fan-friendly projects that improve the club’s value and provide a valid PR win for the board, distracting from the weakened on-field product.
The Fan Reaction & Board Response
The Situation: A significant portion of the fanbase has identified the strategy. They are 100% behind the manager and are calling for the board to be sacked.
The Board’s Counter-Play:
Double Down on the Narrative: Increase briefing about the manager’s “difficult” nature and his failure to develop the project players he was “given.”
The Offering of a Scapegoat: If pressure becomes intolerable, they may sacrifice a visible but less powerful board member (e.g., the Chairman of the Football Board) to appease fans, while the key architect (the member with the grievance) remains in the shadows, retaining control.
The Ultimate Weapon: If the manager’s popularity makes him unbeatable in the court of public opinion, the board will eventually sanction his removal. They will then hire a more compliant coach who willingly accepts the “model,” and the cycle continues. The financial power remains untouched, the duopoly is preserved, and the board retains total control..
ONL – you clearly haven’t read anything I’ve written since the transfer window closed (which is entirely your prerogative).
Unlike a few on here, I’m not for ramming my views down the throats of others by regurgitating my opinion every 20 minutes.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2025 1:10 PM
Liverpool very much so – even down to managerial appointment. The others I can’t speak for.
Hearts are playing in the same way that Barry Ferguson got Rangers to play against Celtic except that Hearts are playing that way in every game apart from the League cup, were they lost on penalties.
How will Celtic and our oceans of riches cope if that challenge keeps up, especially without a free week until after New Year?
Looking at the Huns forums after the game on Sunday and they were raging about how Hearts had signed Braga “the best player in Scotland this season” for £400k while they had paid £7.5m for two wingers one of which started on the bench behind an 18 year old loanee
Celtic40Me @ 1:03 pm,
Not the least bit interested in who you are, just what you do for Celtic, if you’d rather not say that’s completely fine of course.
Thought it was interesting that in that statement that Celtic realised, they made a lot of points you had previously made.
Furinstance the thing about Celtic’s express wish to develop UCL level players was a point you made a few days before.
Still, BTB made the point that Celtic PLC did not do a good job explaining the strategy.
My point was, my belief is their true strategy is confidential as it would be unpopular with the fanbase.
Hail Hail