The search to resolve our defensive problems this season stretch back before the departure of Virgil van Dijk in August. Dedryck Boyata and Efe Ambrose have struggled with form, which our big summer signing, Jozo Simunovic, has endured two lengthy injury lay-offs.
Defensive stats have been revolutionised since the January arrival of Erik Sviatchenk, who was voted the Danish Superliga’s Player of the Year last night. We have achieved six clean-sheets in his nine starts, losing only a solitary goal each game the defence was breached. It took 20 games to record six clean-sheets before the Dane arrived.
We are far from the finished article at the back. The clean-sheets mask perennial failures to defend corner kicks, which have recently resulted good chances, instead of goals conceded. But, progress has been clear. Jozo’s been out of the team since the week before Erik’s arrival.
One of the things we need between now and the end of the season is these two paired up and tested. You win things (and qualify for things) when you stop conceding goals.
I remember the days I’d pour over Oldco Rangers’ accounts for insights into the future and comparisons with our own business model. I’d a cursory look at The Rangers Football Club’s accounts this morning. There is little of comparative relevance for us, or indeed, probably for Newco’s short-term future, should they gain promotion this season.
The one area that offers comparison is the cost of running a football business in a stadium which occasionally caters for crowds of 50,000 or more. With first team wages (I assume this refers to professional players employed) stripped out, expenses during the paired-down Easdale-led season was just north of £17m.
This is a useful guide of what it costs to pay your rates, electricity , insurance and the million other bills when you need to occasionally cater for 50,000-ish crowds, although many costs, like police, will reflect a lower tariff due to the lack of actual footfall. We don’t get as clear a picture of this cost from Celtic, who don’t separate player wages from non-playing staff. My hunch is that Celtic’s paried-down figure will be a few million higher (the silver polish bill alone….).
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I just love this.
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/financial-fair-play-explained.php
Maybe someone should share this video with those over at Hampden but, it is more important for this over at Detox Park.
DESSYBHOY @ 4.31pm
It is astounding that Peter Lawell has not replied to your enquiry as to whether the Celtic Board were aware of a timebar on a referral of Resolution 12 to EUFA.
If your enquiry actually reached his desk it is, at best, bad manners not to acknowledge your e-mail.
Perhaps more of us should be writing to the SLO, the Company Secretary and to PL marking the letter to PL “PERSONAL AND PRIVATE”.
Ultimately, shareholders could requisition an EGM. HH
An Tearmann on 22nd March 2016 4:01 pm
An interesting article but Al Jazeera should really be conducting studies in Damascus to find out how many applicants go to University of Damsacus compared with the numbers that join ISIS or Hamas.
A perfect bit of whataboutery.
An Teach Solais
I’m very sure it reached his desk , I used the same address as on previous letters sent to him , I identified myself as a shareholder and in the past when I have done this he has always replied, bad manners is I think the least of the problem, thanks for the reply.
Ah so this latest Paul article falls into the “look, squirrel” category.
An Teach solais
It was not an e-mail i sent it was a letter.
NEGANON2 on 22ND MARCH 2016 5:36 PM
Ah so this latest Paul article falls into the “look, squirrel” category.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/paring-up-and-testing-17m-running-figure/comment-page-
3/#comment-2799240
Good one. Made me Laugh – want a hug?
Added myself, today, to those who’ve signed, posted and scanned the blm mandate. All best wishes to those who’re moving it forward.
Noticed this club licensing update on the SFA site and it’ll be interesting to compare and contrast when the 2016 reviews are posted later this year although I wonder at the brazenness of this paragraph which just stinks of Sevcomania:
“National Club Licensing applies to Scottish FA member clubs and UEFA Club Licensing applies to Scottish Professional Football League Premiership clubs. There is also an extraordinary procedure that applies to any member club outside the SPFL Premiership where that club has sportingly qualified for a UEFA club competition and makes an application to participate in that competition.”
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/ClubLicensing/2015/101215CL%20current%20status.pdf
GROUP HUG
Sure thing dj67.
Neganon2
Yes that’s where I’ve filed it. Oh look a squirrel.
Nice to see the club get glamour fixtures of the back of our support, the same support they criminalise and collude in corruption against. HH
Sid we are just a big fat juicy cash cow to them.
I see the weekend’s outbreak of something resembling joy didn’t last long
DESSYBHOY
Thanks for the further post re your request to Peter Lawell for information ‘re Celtic Board safeguarding submission of Resolution 12 timeously to EUFA.
I am shocked at his refusal to respond.
If lots of us bombard him with letters and if an EGM can be requisition, even if our esteemed Chairman has the proxies to outcome us it will be cathartic. Thanks for your efforts to get our Board to take the necessary action.
Mark Warburton, manager of high flying championship side Rangers, has reacted angrily to the omission of his team from the International Champions cup.
He told reporters; “How can you have a prestigious tournament without the oldest and most successful club in Scotland? It is extremely disrespectful of the organisers. If Dermot Desmond can acknowledge Rangers proud history and standing in world football, why can’t they?
They are also depriving these European cities of the colour and warmth our travelling support brings.”
A wee question outwith football matters………Ive had this shoulder injury for about 8 to 9 weeks although its getting better ……I am due to get some Physio a week tomorrow on the NHS. Folk are saying im wasting my time as the treatment wouldn’t be up to much…….have any you guys ever had “Bowen Therapy” apparently a lot of footballers use it……thoughts please !!!!!!!
PHILBHOY on 22ND MARCH 2016 3:45 PM
Please say hello to a young friend of mine from Cheltenham, Josh, who is a big Liverpool fan, but I’m trying to convert him!
Two days to go!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yo,Josh,welcome to the best and daftest blog going.
Cheltenham ,you say?
Pick a Saturday.
Pap yer bahookie on a train to Swindon and I’ll get you blootered on Guinness for peanuts. Despite a recent 20% hike it’s still only £2.39 a whup.
Or Bath,but you’re paying,the prices are mental there. Apart from the properly priced places in the town centre that I’ve discovered over the years. Live fitba anaw.
It’s either that or The Midland Hotel and a pub crawl round your haunts. And you don’t want that,I’d wreck yer cred,bud.
Celtic40ME
My brain has the capacity to enjoy on field victories, whilst not forgetting what our board are doing to our club and the game in general. HH
An Teach Solais
Good luck, very minor compared to the Res 12ers BRTH Auldheid Morrissey and Canamalar.
Still not nice to be ignored, cheers mate.
Guyfawkes,
It could just be due to a non premiership clubs qualifying for Europe through the ol Scottish cup route clause.
But with that mob nothing would surprise me.
HH
DESSYBHOY
Disgraceful that he has not acknowledged your correspondence.
Even more disgraceful that I’m not surprised.
You might well be turning up regularly-as you have done for years-and even have a season ticket.
And don’t think that your status as a shareholder matters either,you now know your place.
Shameful.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 22nd March 2016 5:53 pm
You get Guinness in Swindon for £2.39 a skoosh?
I just bought a pint in Den Gladen Munk in Oslo (spit & sawdust boozer in Brugata full of “characters”)
Cost me £11…
BMCUW
Received and understood
Dave King says Sevco fans should boycott the International Champions Cup because the Zombies ain’t invited.
I guess there gonna be eleven teams included on the schedule now in fear of their 300 million fans not turning up.
Wonder if Warbmeister reckons it’s disrespectful that Sevco haven’t been invited to the International Champions Cup?
Dj67 on 22nd March 2016 6:20 pm…what happened to the other 200 million…are they still in Manchester?
Or maybe he won’t be around to give two hoots!
Papa John
Apologies I was aff oot.
Res 12 was the proposal by BRTH, Auldheid, Canamalar and Morrissey, it’s nout to do with the Trust.
Good to see you on sir, I hope you’re well.
Pairing up and testing
I think in time, our centre half pairing will no doubt be : Erik and Jozo… and I think its a partnership that has great potential.
However, I also reckon Mulgrew will leave in the summer, and secure his last big pay day. I think Ambrose should be chased, and Boyata for me is a fill-in / stand-in right centre back.
All in all I think we need to target another centre half signing in the summer.
Pairing up and testing
I think in time, our centre half pairing will no doubt be : Erik and Jozo… and I think its a partnership that has great potential.
However, I also reckon Mulgrew will leave in the summer, and secure his last big pay day. I think Ambrose should be chased, and Boyata for me is a fill-in / stand-in right centre back.
All in all I think we need to target another centre half signing in the summer….
GREENINBINGLEY
You should have seen my face-never a pretty sight at the best of times-when I handed my two quid over and got told to dig deeper.
£2,and so many people drinking it that it was the best pint ever. For so many reasons.
I think Boyata is unfairly maligned.
Our centre defenders get exposed constantly by the midfielders in front of them and our poorly implemented system.
He has also to go through the process of learning that the cheats with whistles will apply a different standard to a Celtic defender.A 50/50 will always be decided in favor of opponent and any contact in dangerous area will result in foul against.A caution will also come with first foul.
This has a huge bearing on how he plays so he has basically to relearn the game.
He has huge potential and given time will be a very good player for us.
Not backing Lawell but the cynicism here is a joke, Celtic have done well to organise 3 glamour pre season games, 2 fixed for Glasgow & Dublin minimising travel.
Yet some portray it as some kind of con to soak more money out of Supporters.
I think it was a great bit of work and I for one am thrilled at the prospect of Celtic & Barca in Dublin.
Celtic v Barca in Dublin this July happy days !
Till later
FAN-A-TIC
I think that is why Ronny is so vehement that defenders do not go to ground. He knows we are being refereed differently,and wants players to realise that.
Topkat
Heard ts ‘Great…..Super !’
God rest the soul of Paige Doherty. How must her family be feeling? God help them. Clydebank is a dark, sad place tonight.
BMCUW
I understand. I often come from Oslo into Dublin at 8am for the flight to Leeds-Bradford at 6pm, which gives me time for a stroll around the old town, a feed and and a bit of a lash in Mulligan’s.
I know it’s Dub prices but it’s still about 3 for the price of 1 compared to Oslo.
Can’t resist a bargain.