Celtic responded to consecutive league defeats last month in decisive fashion, with authoritative wins against Livingston, Dundee, Newco, St Mirren and Buckie Thistle. The record books will show another win on Saturday against Ross County, but the champions lacked even modest authority.
After their capitulation at home to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup a week earlier, I assumed Ross County had “chucked it” and would bring minimum resistance to Celtic Park. There’s a reason I don’t bet. Refreshingly, County pressed Celtic throughout and were denied a point by the width of the crossbar and an added time save by Joe Hart.
After taking the lead in the opening minute through a fortuitous Alistair Johnston deflection, the champions should have finished the game off in some style, but by halftime it was clear a spark was missing. By then, County keeper George Wickens had a few of us reading his bio (on loan from Fulham). He had not only saved a Luis Palma penalty, he did so twice, after an encroaching defender cleared the first rebound before Luis could latch onto it.
Palma and Alexandro Bernabei were involved in the move which led to the goal, but as the opening half closed, both looked short of confidence; Alexandro has surely been pondering his place at the club in recent weeks, Palma with penalties on his mind.
The midfield pairing of Matt O’Riley and Paulo Bernardo, which has been so important in Celtic’s winning run, failed to cope with the game. Maybe Matt’s week, full of distraction, didn’t help, maybe the Celtic Park pitch, which has was in its worst condition in years, interrupted their quick passing game. It was certainly a day for an industrial, as opposed to cultural, midfield.
Palma and Liel Abada were replaced during the second half by Nicolas Kuhn and Mikey Johnston. I worried for the debutant, it is always easier to introduce players to a team that is playing well, instead of hoping a new face will turn the tide. As it was, the changes made little difference.
As we left the ground it struck me how physically light we were. There was not a bruiser in any midfield or forward position. In defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers has width, but Alexandro Bernabei is almost adolescent-looking. On a wintery pitch, these things are noticeable.
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So can we expect a big guy to sign on Wednesday night, Pablo?
If you could provide minimum height & weight specs that will help narrow my search before publicly sharing a name.
Isn’t that what the SMSM do?
So far all I’ve got is Kareem (7′ 2″) and Konishiki (633 lbs).
Not sure either fit the age profile Celtic often pursue.
I must do better.
EKBHOY on 29TH JANUARY 2024 1:24 PM
Celtic are attempting to play a brand of quick attacking football and when we get confronted by mass defences , once touch keep ball. So to get a game for us you need a decent technique.
EKBHOY….good post. You are right about the slow passing of our defenders….well, CCV’s passing. Nawrocki has shown that he has the eye for a quick, sharp forward pass, but we need others to follow suit.
Overall, I am at a loss trying to understand how BR wants us to play. He SAYS that he wants us moving the ball quickly, but we don’t see much of that. It’s like basketball. Get the ball deep in your own half. Pass it around for a bit while the opposition set them selves up defensively. Then try to pick our way round them.
This has reduced Kyogo’s effectiveness, and will likely do the same to Abada.
I did have hopes that BR would improve us. Ange had little interest in defence, so we were never going to get anywhere in Europe. I hoped that BR would keep the good bits of Ange’s game and bring improvements to our defence. Neither of these things have happened.
Cheers, Weeron.
https://videocelts.com/2024/01/blogs/latest-news/respected-source-offers-vata-contract-update/
Respected by who? 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Just pulling your leg Joseph.
No hard feelings I hope.
Court of public opinion (and how that then translates into votes, viewing or listening figures or numbers of followers) is occasionally good for a chuckle.
One of my favourite examples ….
In late 1999, several broadcasters got together to organise a UK public vote for the most influential musicians of the MILLENNIUM.
Mozart came 7th, just 600k votes behind …. Robbie Williams
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I was interested to read the interaction between James Forrest and some other fellow CQNers last night. None of us should be telling anyone that we love Celtic more than someone else, or I devote more time to Celtic than others. None of us know the circumstances that led everyone to their love affair with the Hoops. Mines started when my auld man and his friends would get off the Wishy Emerald bus at Parkhead cross, leave me standing outside the pub till 2;50, plying me with change, him and his friends, to make sure that I didn’t tell their wives that they had left me standing outside the Vaults. while they were in there getting hammered and smuggling in a quarter bottle of Whyte and Mackay with the plastic lid that acted as a shot glass, for halftime, leaning against the green barrier in Aisle 14 of the auld Rangers end. We love something that sometimes doesn’t love us back. My kids are finally understanding why dad is a nutcase on a Saturday morning. My son asked his mum how can a TV have a religion as dad is down there calling the screen an Orange bassa!!!! My wife told him, he would never understand:)))) My love for Celtic could have went a totally different direction when I got released in the summer of 91. I ruptured my left hamstring so badly that I had a hole in it. I played on the wing for the second reserve team and a few games with t he first reserve team, but had an awful last year. Ended up tearing my left three times and my right hamstring twice, nightmare of a year. I had a month left of my contract and was training with the first team at barrowfield and it tore again. I was driven back to the stadium, gaffer came in and told me to relax, I was going to be signed up for another two years as I had shown that I could play a wee bit:))) Went home that day ecstatic, saw my auld man delivering the mail, told him what I had been told, and the sheer joy on his red high blood pressured face was worth it. To cut a long story short, month later no contract, released. heartbroken was not the word, but I didn’t blame anyone. I was 19 and turfed into the real world. A few weeks later things changed at Celtic and a new manager came in. That’s life!!! I never held any grudges as I knew how fortunate and privileged I was to have lived the 3 1/2 years that I had. For you see, I walked through those doors every day in awe of the place, the people, the legends. I got to train with Packy, the Bear, TB, the Maestro, Charlie Nic, Big Mick, and I was in heaven. I got to have one on one conversations with Mr. McNeil, Bobby Lennox, the wonderful and very much undervalued real Celtic legend in Neil Mochan. I went home everyday telling stories to my auld man that lit up his face, and he was and always will be a better Celtic man than I will ever be. I pounded the auld ash track around the field, ran round strathclyde park, ran up and down Queens park, did the feckin Beep test to get back fit. Did it one day with Charlie Nic, who sat in the home dugout with a cup of tea reading the rags as I ran horseshoes in under 55 seconds and he would ask me what time I did it in and then he would add a few seconds on for himself:))) Mr. McNeil would ask me how Charlie did and of course I would lie and tell him what Charlie had told me and he would look at me and say wee mhan Nicholas has never run that fast in his life, and then Charlie played on the Saturday at home against Dundee United and scored 2 brilliant goals:))) When I got released I still traveled to the games. I got injured over In Derry and Celtic still allowed me to come in get treatment, they didn’t have to do that!!! I moved to America in 94, and my life changed completely. I have been on CQN since its inception. I have a CQN mug on my desk that one of my students had designed for me. I used to lurk and not post, but as I have gotten older I wanted to share my opinions, and that’s what they are mine!!! They don’t have to be the same as anyone elses. We can always agree to disagree. Paul has given us this platform to do just that. I hate to see things get out of hand and the back and forth with some folks. We have all been put through the ringer at times with Celtic and will do in the future. Sometimes we forget during this unprecedented time of success that we are enjoying, how bad it really used to be. For me, the end of the 80s and the 90s. For older generations, the end of the 50s and early to mid 60s, but their love and support was unwavering. We have no right to win every game. It is a professional sport and it was refreshing to see a team in Ross County’s predicament have a go at us. We survived, we move on, and we continue to support the team. Never forget what it means to be a Celtic fan. Many good people from the past have given us this honor, and it is up to us to continue. I am no better a fan than anyone else who supports Celtic.
Hail Hail and sorry for the long message.
Sean
R2ngers buy big lumps! How many trophies have they won doing that? Kilmarnock have lots of big lumps! How many trophies have they won? Livingston have a team full of big lumps, aye you know the rest.
There is not substitute for quality and it comes in all shapes and sizes.
Not so long ago the best team in the world, and the best player ,were Barca. Can’t remember seeing to may big lumps in that team.
We lack quality, size doesn’t matter if you have that. It is quality we need in multiple positions around the team.
Won’t happen overnight, so let’s give time, time. BR has been here for months not years, I’ll bet the standard of the squad over the next 2/3 windows will be staggering, por cierto
An T @ 2:21
I really don’t know. If pushed, I’d suggest we have, especially with our Asian cup players returning.
Certainly closer than I’d like it to be.
I suppose, more importantly, does Brendan feel he has the squad?
What are your thoughts?
POR CIERTO
Some fair points but we’re approaching the end of BR’s second window. Do we look a better team than last season? (Not including the foot off the gas when the league was won)
GLENOWEN
I think we have the team and squad to do it even as it is. However, their coach is getting every last drop from those players – is ours?
We’ll win the head to heads because that’s what Rodgers does but my concern is them dropping less points against the rest.
POR CIERTO
Their big lumps are doing ok in Europe…..we need some physical players and get the ball down the park quickly
enough east to west.Win the next two games and we should be fine.
BOONDOCK SAINT on 29TH JANUARY 2024 2:38 PM…..
This is one of the best posts ever on CQN. Thanks for sharing your story.
Weeron.
Sean..
Great post…
HH..☘☘
As we left the ground it struck me how physically light we were
don’t you read the posts on your own blog or is it only beginning to sink in.
also could someone tell Palma he is not the superstar he thinks he is , not any better than MJ
Glenowen
We have better players,are a better team and i am confident we can work towards another title.
I expect thats same as all Celtic fans.
Be deaf to the hun noise.i am.
And fook the bangers that boo.
BOONDOCK SAINT on 29TH JANUARY 2024 2:38 PM……
Fantastic story, there will not be a better post all day imo.
MCPHAIL BHOY on 29TH JANUARY 2024 1:46 PM
AIPPLE on 29TH JANUARY 2024 12:13 PM
Who is Power and what position does he play?
—————————————————
Plays for Kilmarnock I think. Position? Midfield ‘enforcer’ aka thug
———————–
Almore can give you more background on the fella Power.
Almore taught him (not the dark arts ) all he knows lol.
Almore was his Teacher .
BOONDOCK SAINT on 29TH JANUARY 2024 2:38 PM
That was a brilliant post 👏👏👏
B2BGHF
More good news to add to our new signings…
Celtic land cash windfall of £225,000. From the sale of Leo Hjelde from Leeds to Sunderland
(Thanks mickey beale)
THE RETURNOF WEERON on 29TH JANUARY 2024 2:26 PM
EKBHOY on 29TH JANUARY 2024 1:24 PM
It seems that there are fewer crosses from the wings or long balls to Kyogo when we counter-attack: maybe teams have learned or maybe BR prefers possession/territory and to get players up to support.
king lubo.
the PLC strategy, and kpis are all on line and reported on the annual reports.
if you take out the name CELTIC, and ignore who the board are, and forget about peter and family, then in an unemotional analysis, as a stand alone business, it meets its objectives. the owners must be very happy, what with a waiting list ready to take up any seats that become available.
————————
Celtic plc annual results for year ended June 30, 2023
Club News
Announcement of Results for the year ended 30 June 2023
SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS
Key Operational Items
Winners of the Domestic Treble in season 2022/23 for a world record 8th time
Qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for season 2023/24.
Participation in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in season 2022/23.
26 home matches played at Celtic Park (2022: 31 games).
Key Financial Items
Group revenue increased by 35.8% to £119.9m (2022: £88.2m).
Operating expenses including labour increased by 4.0% to £95.4m (2022: £91.7m).
Gain on sale of player registrations of £14.4m (2022: £29.0m).
Acquisition of player registrations of £13.0m (2022: £38.4m).
Profit before taxation of £40.7m (2022: £6.1m).
Year-end cash net of bank borrowings of £72.3m (2022: £30.2m).
that people have knee jerk reactions about company performance because the football team doesnt hit the highest performance levels, well only they know why they feel the way they do.
——————————
BOONDOCK
Brilliant stuff, moving and thought provoking. Just the job..
Well done, wee you indeed
KINGlUBO
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/september/18/celtic-plc-annual-results-for-year-ended-june-30–2023/
The results for the year ended 30 June 2023 show an increase in revenue to £119.9m (2022: £88.2m) with a corresponding profit before tax of £40.7m (2022: £6.1m profit before tax). This represents a record set of financial results for the Club due to a combination of factors as detailed below, including some material items of a one off nature.
The £31.7m increase in revenue reflects the participation in the UEFA Champions League in season 2022/23, when compared to the UEFA Europa League in the previous season, resulting in greater ticket and media rights income. In addition to this, our tour of Australia and a record year for our retail business were also significant contributors to the increase. The £34.6m increase in profit before tax resulted from the significant revenue increase outlined above along with a £14.4m gain on sale of player registrations, predominantly from the sales of Jota, Juranovic and Giakoumakis. In addition, we recorded £13.5m of other income that came from a combination of compensation received following the departure of Ange Postecoglou and a business interruption insurance recovery in relation to Covid-19, with the two items mentioned being one off in nature and typically non-recurring.
In terms of funding and liquidity, our year end cash, net of bank borrowings, was £72.3m (2022: £30.2m). The increase this year was principally due to the translation into cash of the strong trading environment and the typically non-recurring items mentioned previously. These reserves were used to fund the summer 2023 transfer window and will be used for settling outstanding sums due from transfers over the last two seasons, which are typically paid in instalments. This sum also contains the cash required to fund the significant investment that the Club is planning to make in developing our Barrowfield training facility. It is important to highlight that, given the increasing gap between the sums able to be earned between the Champions League and the Europa League, it is vital that we retain a cash buffer in reserve. History tells us that we will not always qualify for the Champions League and the benefit of holding cash reserves affords us the optionality of managing through seasons where we participate in the Europa League with the ability to retain our squad as opposed to selling key players to bridge the income shortfall between both competitions. The Financial sustainability rules are also a key feature of UEFA licencing and we need to be cognisant of running our club accordingly.
Building on the investment in player registrations of £38.4m in the previous financial year ended 30 June 2022, the Club made further significant investment in the year by committing an additional £13.0m, taking our total spend to £51.4m over the two financial years to 30 June 2023. Since the year end and up to 1st September 2023 we have invested a further £15.0m into player registrations taking our total spend over this period to £66.4m. The assembly of a strong squad was a key factor in retaining the SPFL title for the second consecutive year and ultimately securing a domestic Treble. The investment will serve us well for the season ahead. Last year’s trophies brought our total Trebles to eight in our history and this landmark represented a new world record and one that all connected with our Club should be rightly proud of.
Securing the SPFL title once again in 2022/23 led to automatic Champions League qualification. Following the draw, we have been matched against Feyenoord, Lazio and Atletico Madrid in what is sure to be an exciting Champions League Group Stage. Automatic qualification allowed us to make further football investment with a focus on building greater strength into the playing squad. In the summer 2023 transfer window, we have acquired Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Marco Tilio, Hyun-jun Yang, Odin Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Luis Palma and brought in Paulo Bernardo and Nathaniel Phillips on loan. The present squad also gives real potential for development with the average age being 24. We parted company with Aaron Mooy, Carl Starfelt, Albian Ajeti, Ismaila Soro, Osaze Urhoghide, Vasilios Barkas, Conor Hazard and Jota. We wish all our former players the best for the future.
Our successfully proven strategy has delivered stability and footballing success over many years and remains the same. We must balance the signing of players that can be developed and sold when conditions are optimal alongside the need to sign players who are able to make an immediate impact and deliver footballing success. The execution of this strategy is increasingly challenging owing to wage and transfer inflation, but this formula has underpinned both our footballing success and financial stability over a number of years now and it is vital that we adhere to it.
thats the chairmans words not mine.
Our successfully proven strategy has delivered stability and footballing success over many years and remains the same. We must balance the signing of players that can be developed and sold when conditions are optimal alongside the need to sign players who are able to make an immediate impact and deliver footballing success. The execution of this strategy is increasingly challenging owing to wage and transfer inflation, but this formula has underpinned both our footballing success and financial stability over a number of years now and it is vital that we adhere to it.
Board lovers of the world unite.
At worst 2 points in front with a title to go for. 2 head to heads included. It’s doable but not gauranteed. Yes it could or should be easier with our financial muscle, but for whatever reason weve chosen not to flex it. So we deal with the situation we have. Let’s not be distracted by infighting or by others, let’s not let this be another Covid season. Let’s win the league, then we can bring out our pitchforks and torches
BOONDOCK SAINT, these are the kind of posts I lurk on here for. Just don’t read them that often now :(
BOONDOCK SAINT
Great read.
Thanks for sharing.
BOONDOCKSAINT
Thanks for that post.
Supporting the Celtic is a roller coaster ride,with its ups and downs. HH
Boondock Saint
That was a quite fascinating post. Thank you.
BOONDOCK SAINT
Great post…..i remember the 50’s …the good the bad and the ugly but still Celtic through and through.
Fans not taking up their seats
Fans booing……
Nothing to do with the board at all ….because .
Kpi’s met
Bank balance exceptional
Bonuses handed out .
Season books sold out
All in the world’s good .
Why change a winning formula.
The glory hunters will be back for the big games ……
And we all wake up being Tims. what’s not to like .
💚🤍💛.
My earliest memory of Celtic was the 1960 Cup Final replay when Jock Stein’s Dunfermline dumped us 2-0. I watched it on Scotsport with my dad after he got back from the game. I was 6.
My first game was a 4-3 win at home to Hibs in 1961 when I was 8.
I suffered along with my dad for those 5 years until Jock arrived in 1965.
The start of the magic.
●Double vowel surname●
All Celtic players.
1)1960-63 …was then signed by Mr Stein for Hibernian?
2)68-76 signed from Clyde?
3)85-89..Joint top goal scorer in ’89?
4)2008-2012…left for Zaragoza?
5)2010-2014….during 2010-11 season scored20 goals in 26 games?
6)2010..born Suriiname?
7)2009-10…6 games then Middlesbrough?
Bit of nostalgia for some!
Billy Cook and Jerry McAloon are a couple from my late father’s time of supporting Celtic.Jerry came from Gorbals and played for Belfast Celtic,as well as the Glasgow version.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 29TH JANUARY 2024 1:46 PM
BTw – nice to see some o’ the “I never post here types” back postin’……………………;) They’ll keep the “tourists” company I suppose. Ye’d huvtae laff……………………. BrassNeckers CSC
*I’ve been on several sites throughout the years but eventually opted for this one as the level of debate is generally very healthy, no too many throwin their toys our of the pram.
One I toyed with a while back which I still visit as their sevco thread reminds me of the old rumour mill, lots of laughs, however I reneged on subscribing as I was led to believe it is full of hunterlopers and no kiddin you can spot them a mile away, generally all pointing fingers at our current chairman.
Now we had one on here, a Tim actually and it seems a good friend of the late lamented macjay who pulled me aside by saying when at their club was as fervent as any of us, I think its because I called him the antipodean quim, once Big Peter jacked it in, he disappeared but it seems it was personal with him, something to do with PL’s previous occupation, and NOT the club.
Now every time one of these huns appears, as I say, you can spot them a mile away, as first of all they are as thick as raphael in the neck of a bottle and also I’ve seen more brains in a Halloween mask, as all they want to do is cause unrest and create divisions on here, the best example is billy buffalo, it disnae work, and very few of us respond to his inane ramblings.
I also realise there are others like David66 who for his own reason disnae like PL, wtf I knew supporters who had no time for Pat Crerand, big heid they called him and suggested we had tae sell him or widen the tunnel tae get his heid through it, others it was the “Bear”, actually both of them, as in a pub one day I overheard it was Murdo that was carrying our captain at the time.
Or on the train going home from a midweek game, I was very young at the time, and overheard OUR supporters lamenting on one of our players who Bob Kelly had labelled our secret weapon against the continentals as they were called at the time, they were saying “diStefano hahaha, merr like stephanie”, wurnae laughin on May 25 1967, to each his own.
MARSPAPA on 29TH JANUARY 2024 4:35 PM`
my point is simply this, to the owners, the 5 really powerful people, those business results while winning trophy convince them the strategy is right. i dont include lawell in that anymore actually, he is a chairman, toothless.
nothing will change.
brendan could walk, and they will say so what. we know best.
1. John mcnamee
2.Harry Hood
3. Brian McClair
7 Willo Flood
talking of Stevie – have an extra tenner a week.
STEPHEN (STEVIE) CHALMERS OF CELTIC F.C., TWO CONTRACTS, 30TH JUNE 1967 AND 30TH JUNE 1968
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/auction-catalogues/mctears-gallery1842/catalogue-id-srmct11952/lot-26437627-6c09-43f0-96d0-b0df00d98fe2