Success in football is determined by a number of matters: the ability of the manager, players performing at the right level, injuries and sheer luck, and in Scotland, a club’s determination to influence officials with an exaggerated sense of grievance. Apparently.
But transfer business has an even greater impact than dodgy penalties. This is one area Celtic need to get right over the next two windows. Our performance, not just in the summer window, but across our last three transfer windows has been poor. There is often a lag in outcomes before the impact of a window is felt. The £32m spent in the summer of 2024 failed to see many minutes on the pitch a year later, during Champions League qualification, for example.
The CIES Football Observatory published their survey of the “world’s smartest clubs on the transfer market since January 2021”. Tony Bloom has two clubs in the top 10: Brighton (2nd) and Union SG (8th); I’m sure he didn’t bet on that outcome (my Tony Bloom man-crush has faded a little this week).
The top 20 has some lessons for us: Atalanta, Napoli, Bologna, Udinese and Lecce, demonstrate how well the medium-to-small Italian clubs have figured out how to progress. Is it surprising so many young Scottish players have bounced after moving there?
Benfica are there, as are Feyenoord, but not Ajax. The Amsterdamers beat Celtic to the signing of €12m striker Kasper Dolberg in the summer, which traumatised many of us. Dolberg has returned one goal in all competitions since, a consolation in a defeat to Excelsior. Not that the lad’s had much of a chance, his only appearances have been off the bench.
The Ajax-Dolberg-Celtic tale says so much about where we were in the summer. Unable to attract a player who cannot get a game at a team woefully underperforming this season. There are so many reasons why we should not have wasted time on this exercise, it scarcely needs explaining.
Celtic are 19th in the table, between Manchester City and Leipzig. How can that be? I hear you ask. The lag works both ways. Analysis of Celtic still benefits from earlier signings, up until that of Nicolas Kuhn in January 2024, who left the premises this summer. The full impact of the subsequent windows has not shown up yet.
Being “smartest” in the transfer window does not guarantee success, but it’ll outperform being thick, no matter how good your ‘exaggerated sense of grievance’ game is.
Looking in from the outside, it’s easy to say, ‘be more like Bloom’ (although not with that other stuff), but as many observers will note, getting this right is not easy. What is easy, is to stick to the data. Recognise what succeeds and what fails and always back your winning hand. A lack of observance of this principle in football is quite astonishing.
Postscript: I looked down the list and eventually found Aberdeen, but after continuous scrolling I ran out of patience trying to find another Scottish club. Looks like Bloom’s magic touch has yet to hit Hearts.
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I have disagreed with Paul since the first kick this season. Rangers are our biggest threat.
—
i think Paul was at the wind up.
im sure he believes that rangers will be closest to us in the league.
but makes a good pish-take story to say otherwise, and noises the huns up.
all good stuff
I think we can safely say the GB are well and truly fecked. They’ll take the brunt of recriminations, like it or not.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/cops-investigating-intimidation-campaign-against-36362941.amp
“We can confirm that a targeted attempt has been made to intimidate Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, Chris McKay, Mark Hargreaves and their families.
“A number of posters similar to those we have seen this season have been posted in the vicinity of the homes of Peter, Michael, Chris and Mark.
“These signs have also been posted at a school attended by one of their children.
“This is a disgusting and cowardly attempt to intimidate and threaten Club staff and their families.
“We are aware that Police Scotland is investigating these incidents.
The Club is firm in its resolve not to give in to this type of intimidation.”
Clancy like Collum was ‘ downgraded a couple of years ago because the huns complained about them,about 50% less than SPFL…..follow the money as they say…
Old FIrm = Good.
Always remember.
Old Firm = Good.
Repeat
We need a strong Rangers.
Old Firm = Good
Remember
B78…I think P67 always knows who our biggest challengers are.
VAR tonight was terrible but it’s still the best thing for us and for others to get a fair game..
The clever huns (both of them) will see tonight that their win only masks their massive defincies….they are a terrible team.
It’s downwards all the way for sevco…theyll6be lucky to finish 4th.
maestro@9.59
Jack Butland knows he can can get away with any kind of “challenge” in the SPL, got form too…
That is a red card all night long shocking decision…
But not surprising
Boyd on Sky can I see it again and addressing the host as Haley he is a right Diddy.
https://x.com/i/status/1997436154430263713
One for the road heading to ma cot big day ramora…
https://youtu.be/SVQkdV4GwLc?si=XWBYiwPSGHCvk40V
sionnaigh@10.17
Shocking ….but not surprising…but they have apologists on here and elsewhere….
Entryists one and all….the Celtic Fan Collective will regret giving them another platform
Ross Desmond was right in every respect and every word he used in his statement
I used the word ‘malelovent’ on here to describe their recent behaviour…
I wasn’t wrong…
Maestro
Like it….but loved this version….
https://youtu.be/MagG8J–BBI?si=URqlGVG0eiN8w1R3
Celtic Mac, CFF have bitten off more they can chew. Losers.
They’d be better off setting up on their own. Your Football Club, has a ring to it.
Has the scrotum faced Dermot Gallagher been on yet with his “Move along, nothing to see here” schtick?
Compromised, soup taking creep.
sionnaigh
If your starting point is that everything the Celtic supporting Celtic Board do is wrong and that they must go….
Then you have not only limited your approach but your decision making process from day one
Where do you go from here? It wont be picking Wild Mountain Thyme that is for sure…
As if by magic here’s MOM who can make excuses for someone who compares Dermott Desmond to Hitter and Hess.
How low can you go, MOM?
It doesn’t say what was printed on the posters……was it a threat of violence?
31003
The use of posters as a trope….the message
You are not welcome…
Does that sound familiar?
Jomama03
@JojoINSPfan
“…not the least bit surprised…add…AIDS COVID BIRD FLU…what am I missing?…”
https://x.com/JojoINSPfan/status/1996693636239458670#m
Eh,….Fake Moon Landings, Flat Earth, Lizard Politicians especially the entire Parliaments in Ireland and Scotland.
So you did ok Jojo. lol
Are you related to my Super Hero Kojo? bigger LOL.
Well done King Dermot for getting rid of the toxicity out of the club. [apart from the dunderheid COLLECTIVE] lol
C’mon the big Wilf!
HH
oot.
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 6th December 2025 10:30 pm
Old FIrm = Good.
Always remember.
Old Firm = Good.
…….
Absholuteley!
BUT.
You do know that the banjo playing racist hunter will have you bang to rights as the new Hitler after your next step out of line. Don’t you? lol
If there was no Old Firm there would be no 60,000 season ticket holders.
Just ask the 30,000 empty seats who greeted the Ronny Roar. lol
HH
oot.
Kev
We all have to understand….unless other teams can step up….which is highly unlikely….No Rangers means NO COMPETITION….in a business sense its imperative the board must HELP to keep them going…
The only alternative is to get out of the SPFL and get into another league set up…again highly unlikely….
I’d suggest approaching the English leagues…swallow our pride…and ask for inclusion to the bottom league and work our way up from there….I fear for the future of our tin pot league and the future of Celtic FC….
Other leagues and teams have left us way behind and the gap is widening as I type….God knows what Celtic and the SPFL will look like 10 years from now….we’re ASPIRING to become an EPL feeder club…thats this boards ambition….buy low…sell high to the likes of Bournemouth or Burnley….1967 is the very best we will ever be….unless….
I’m not down at your level yet.
Thankfully.
Celtic Mac.
By the time Dermot D’s finished with the dumbwitted Celtic Fan Collective, they’ll be picking Wild Mountain Tyme, Whistling Dixie …..anything at all, just to be let back into their corner.
Or maybe they won’t. Pride is the deadliest of sins.
Either way, they’ll lose.
I believe the board are complicit in propping up Rangers to create a more competitive environment. I believe they are doing it to save Scottish football first and foremost. I believe they want that for the sake of Scottish football AND for Celtic AND for the money that comes with it…if it’s competitive. I believe the board supporters know that the board is complicit but will never admit to it. I totally understand the boards thinking BUT…..I don’t agree with it..
Rather than aspire to make money while happy to play second fiddle to our neighbours and others…we should be looking for ways to escape the situation we find ourselves in. Make the governing bodies, UEFA, realise that unless we are allowed to apply to other, better league set ups…football in Scotland will not survive. Sell our biggest clubs, Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, the Dundees, Dunfermline etc etc to any league that’s open to expansion…for me preferably English leagues.
Rather than be happy feeding of the crumbs…our board should spend ALL of their time looking for an escape route….even if it means starting at the bottom….Scottish Football is eating itself and DYING…
The kids were bringing through the academy know at the tender ages of 14,15, 16, that there’s no future here…
Back in the ‘60s, ‘70s and even the ‘80s drawing a team from Norway, Finland or Sweden, Israel or Cyprus in a European competition was looked on as a bye…..now however…
That’s how far we’re falling behind…
….one last thing….i have many nieces and nephews….5 of them support English football teams….they’re all from Celtic supporting families….yet all think Scottish football is rubbish…
How many more of our youngsters think the same?….
Celtic Mac on 6th December 2025 10:59 pm
sionnaigh@10.17
Shocking ….but not surprising…but they have apologists on here and elsewhere….
Entryists one and all….the Celtic Fan Collective will regret giving them another platform
Ross Desmond was right in every respect and every word he used in his statement
I used the word ‘malelovent’ on here to describe their recent behaviour…
I wasn’t wrong
=========
Sionnaigh on 7th December 2025 12:22 am
Celtic Mac.
By the time Dermot D’s finished with the dumbwitted Celtic Fan Collective, they’ll be picking Wild Mountain Tyme, Whistling Dixie …..anything at all, just to be let back into their corner.
Or maybe they won’t. Pride is the deadliest of sins.
Either way, they’ll lose.
===============
Posts like the above serve what purpose?
Showing loyalty to who? Dermot
Entrist- no! home and away matchday attending Celtic fans, oh no worries there’ll be a kacki jacket and a reb song to outrage along to outrage you soon,fuck it may make you attend a game if you unfold your arms and stop tuttuttin :-))
And before you double down on your outrage over a Daily Record unlinked story i would say give yourself a shake
-intimidation via a poster,(repeat that to yourself ffs)
seen on thorntonhall roundabout,what was it the colour of crayons used?.As one who is in that area nigh on daily you can’t fart since the arson attack on PLs home a few years back,security is permanent and hidden.i can’t help that with the level of security around these properties
Celtic fans called the green brigade are a section of US,you want to cancel one you want to cancel us all,i would rather jawjaw than warwar….well its not warwar its self harm.reconciliation must be the way forward
You 2 must be the only 2 who are totally content as to how Celtic are governed and ran at this point in time,every Celtic fan and shareholder want better communication and democracy within Celtic.
The collective is easy to have a go due to the range of opinion,but fuck all is offered as way forward,be it on shareholding issues,or canvassing for league changshootin fish in a barrel,you be that notetaker who broke down what police forwarded as trouble?- as per stivs posts couple days go.
Reconciliation and one Celtic must be the aim.
HH
31003
7th December 2025 12:45 am
I believe the board are complicit in propping up Rangers to create a more competitive environment.
======
After comparing what Celtic spent on player squad and what they could have spent with what Rangers spent in last couple of seasons the amounts are very close.
Having thought why the only unwelcome conclusion is that keeping the SPFL competitive was a priority .
In an interdependent industry what else can Celtic do?
If the support can see that football in any league is interdependent what else can they do?
If Celtic cannot leave would the support accept an American type model with no relegation that also emulates what happened when jerseys were goalposts?
Two best players picked their team from the rag tag assortment that wanted a game?
A bridge too far I expect, but I remember a Catholic Boys Guild game at Glasgow Green between my team, St Alphonsus and Our Lady of Fatima.
They were a man short but we were favourites v 11 men.
There is guy with a pair of gutties or sannies under his arm, that I recognised, looking for a game.
Our manager agreed in spite of my protestation (Catholics can Protest).
The guy beat us 3 2 and went on to play for Blackpool, Newcastle and Scotland.
Tony Green could play a bit.
Such a set up would change and maybe save the game but would it get support?
I doubt it but I wanted to tell the story.
This number by the Animals should be the forefront of The Boards thinking
https://youtu.be/Q3mgapAcVdU?si=3sA7RbOa7I8c76o_
But something major has to change.
31003 on 7th December 2025 12:57 am
Back in the ‘60s, ‘70s and even the ‘80s drawing a team from Norway, Finland or Sweden, Israel or Cyprus in a European competition was looked on as a bye…..now however…
That’s how far we’re falling behind…
=≈==≈====≈=================≈=.
3’sy for want of a better term ‘playing’ has been privatised,all activities,i mean just think of the stuff you did as a kid? Now you pap the kids in the car and drive them to fro activities.
1.I went to school where Silverburn was.4 pitches
2.Cowglen pitches 21 pitches
3.Boydstone Rd 5 pitches.
IN 2&3 Those 26 pitches played 3 games on Sat
That is 26x22x3=1716 players playing.
A Saturday morn was s sea of teams and legs.
Those pitches are now gone
Think of where you kicked a ball,local pitches are they still there?
Anyways a welcome for Wilfried tomorrow and a victory
HH
AT
I agree with your post…hence the reason I asked the question, was violence inferred on the posters?…
If not….nothing to see here….
I didn’t agree with an earlier post though…regarding opinions of those who don’t attend or purchase Celtic related merchandise…
I no longer do either…but…as a life long supporter who earned their stripes I still believe I have the right of opinion…
My older brother took me to my first Celtic game when I was 5 years old…..1963…
Raised in Townhead I was only a few miles from “Parkheid”…Myself and 2 pals…from aged 7 would walk to Parkheid and get a lift ower at every home game….league, cups and European nights…..up til aged 13….we even walked to Firhill, Shawfield, Hampden and once to Clydebank…(couldn’t do that again)
As we got older we’d still go but had to pay our way in…but still walked til one of us got a car….i gave up when I was playing football myself then pubs, girls and generally life took over…went back in my early 20s….then married life took over….Ive been many times since but not frequently so can’t say I’m a supporter in it’s true sense but I’m still very much a fan….i always watching on telly apart from Huns games….not good for my heart and I hate the hate and vitriol…..
I can’t help it…I still have an opinion on our play and how the club is run….its impossible to get rid of…
Sometimes
31003 on 7th December 2025 12:04 am
……
If we want to be a “Celtic” club again as opposed to a PLC Timmy rinsing machine.
Then we need to be run by people who’ll be open/honest/fearless/straight/up and tell it as it is.
If we were run by such people in 2012 then Rangers would not have been punished for what David Murray did.
Rangers FC and Rangers fans were sacrificed for a Knight of the Realm.
Yes it was a great laugh at the time.
But look at it since.
Just think, if the Huns get a manager who’ll park the bus and mug everybody, how many boards will we go through before we realize that if you want to overcome a parked bus, then you have to park your own bus, and mug that Hun bus back, like Lugi did to Sir Walter twice at Ibrox.
That set off alarm bells in the soon to be Celtic leader, Fergus McCann, who realized that he would have an uppity Stein educated manager who knew how to stand his ground, and Fergus can’t handle being stood up to, as we saw with his pathetic treatment of WIM JANSEN & MURDO MacLEOD, who were both forced to resign for REFUSING to bring in “THE SLOW LANE” in the 1997/98 season, six years before MON got shafted with this guff!
Imho, Fergus McCann tapped up PAT BONNER, TOM BOYD, PETER GRANT, PAUL McSTAY, CHARLIE NICHOLAS, to put down tools, lie down dead on the pitch, and throw games, cheating Celtic fans, all to make LOU MACARI fail, and would be easy to sack.
This was putting down the tools to get LOU MACARI sacked, was said not by me, but by ex-Celtic Legend, DAVIE PROVAN, after every Celtic game that LOU MACARI was in charge of, as DP commentated on Radio Clyde Super Scoreboard.
David Murray should have been blamed 100% for EBT/HMRC/TAX/DODGING, in 2012.
Not a single Rangers fan who goes to see their team every week stole EBT’s bu they got 100% punished for it.
I know that I’m probably the only Celtic fan on the planet who’ll have enough integrity to hold this view.
If being the only Celtic fan in Timdom who’ll say that Celtic PLC were also corrupt as fk in 2012 then so be it.
They proved that when Sevco got promoted in 2016, and went along with stitching up Celtic supporters by putting old Rangers prices onto Sevco tickets, which Celtic fans bought and then sang about Rangers being dead.
BUT.
The PLC were cute enough to sugar coat these traitor tickets, by the circuses that greeted the arrival of Brendan Rodgers1, in 2016.
The fans have proved how easily played they are by falling for Rodgers mood swings AFTER every Transfer Window.
The game needs to fall on its erchie – then a new approach.
BUT.
The same names will not change the game back to were it was before MURRAY/SOUNESS rigged the 50/50 gate receipts and went along with the Hillsborough psyop to bring in all seating which dizny increase safety despite the propaganda from the lying media/politicians/planted/celebrities who were all deployed to say that Covid vaccines were for our safety, but saw heehaw about the vaccine deaths.
Tory governments full of lying monsters will change ZERO!
The game is just cast off Tory slop until the VAST MAJORITY of unneeded seats are removed.
The Magical Fairy Story club is long gone!
Love you 31003sy take care man.
HH
oot.
3sy
All I can say is around the Clarkston busby area there was some lamposts with the poster that has been seen around.they didn’t last long
Have your say 3sy always,in between a tune:-)
Mark Attwood
@MarkAttwood
“There is now damning evidence available that proves the British Government via Operation Talla were running a genocidal operation called “covid19” against the British people produced by @EthicalApproach and @XPCBirmingham.
This is now out there and is not going away.
To help save lives and bring the criminals to justice you must look at the information and share it everywhere you can.
It’s up to us. Those that wilfully do not do this are either cowards or part of the operation. It’s that simple.”
https://x.com/MarkAttwood/status/1995766523395236271#m
And now they are trying it again with the fake flu narrative.
Stay safe.
Love to Mr & Mrs Auldheid YNWA. [unlike me] lol
HH
oot.
Mark Attwood, self promoter, grifter, endless generator of fake companies and conspiracy theories, very profitable grifting career his motto is from PT Barnum line “There’s a sucker born every minute” an incontrovertible truth for platforms such as Elon Musks X , Youtube and Faceache (Facebook) is the Mark Attwoods can get away with inventing conspiracy theories without accountability, science for dummies
Its in our DNA to debate, even about Street names
Engaging 5 mins Docu
Should Killarney’s Streets Be Renamed? Co. Kerry, Ireland 1965
https://youtu.be/sPoiIn3iTow?si=w1TTE1IvEZ854jvw
Well worth the spending the hour watching as the unravelling of the many crimes of The British Empire continues in the 21st Century
The truth about the British Empire and slavery: Mehdi Hasan and Nigel Biggar
Britain once ruled over the largest empire in history. For many Britons, it remains a source of pride. Others argue its power was built on a legacy of brutality, colonial conquest and the enslavement of millions.
Can Britain reckon with that past and make amends? Some say it shouldn’t have to.
Mehdi Hasan goes head-to-head with author and Oxford professor emeritus Nigel Biggar on Britain’s colonial history, its slavery and the question of reparations.
https://youtu.be/SZvkTmNQSy4?si=mzATdfAIPRfQ3neh
Weather forecast for 3 PM 95% Rain Met office Glasgow
Wilfreid will be experiencing a British welcome to Scotland, a wet afternoon Dom Robertson MIB and Greg Aitken Ayrshire self confessed Rangers Fan on VAR, Ex Rangers player Derek McInnes opposition manager, Union flags in the away support, given the conditions I fully it will be a very physical game, no quarter given opposition will have a starting high tempo man marking pressing opening, it will be a battle, McInnes badly needs a win Hearts have been stuttering of late
Celtic will rely on Schmeichael, Trusty, Scales, McGregor and Maeda to win there own physical battles, giving us platform to give the likes of Hatate enough time on the ball to create, as ever will be in the North Stand wet and drookit, where else would I rather be COYBIG
Long overdue for the end of the war, time for JAW JAW, mistakes on all sides
First casualty of any war is the truth, the next casualty has been Celtic
Families having their doors chapped or worse at 6 AM for BOTP allegations is unacceptable
Banning every fan in the standing section area is unfair and unjust, Celtic give no recourse to an appeal
Rhetoric from both sides needs to be dialled down considerably
Posters picturing PLC members faces crossed out is unacceptable behaviour
aff oot
Good morning all.