One year ago, we dared hope for an invincible treble but it seemed impossible, even the greats never achieved it. The Lions lost home and away to Dundee United in season 1966-67, while we achieved the treble on only two other occasions. When Tom Rogic dinked a 90th minute winner in the Scottish Cup final you and I knew the level of achievement.
At that point, 2017 went down in our history as a year bettered only by 1967. 2003 came close, but season 2002-03 is remembered fondly for its endearing frailties. Celtic were simply peerless as they secured the club’s fourth treble.
With half of season 2017-18 complete, the first leg of what would be an unprecedented second successive treble is complete, but signs are clear that this team peaked some months ago, despite qualification for the Europa League knockout rounds.
Aware of the exceptional (from a Scottish perspective) demands on his players of completing in every round of cup competitions, a dozen European games and international football, Brendan Rodgers has rotated his squad this season more than any previous Celtic manager. While this was doubtlessly the correct action, performances inevitably took a hit when our two exceptional and experience strikers were watching from the side-lines. In football, you often need to take a backwards step to make long-term gains.
This didn’t really bothered me. I liked watching Odsonne Edouard, Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller. Being able to win the league while developing talent in this manner is one of the few benefits of being stuck in a small league.
Ultimately, even our top performers struggled to raise their game. Defeat eventually arrived, a timely signpost for the club as they plan ahead.
You and I have studied the structure of the club for many years. We have never known it to be as stable. Income last season topped £90m, the first time it reached this level, and with a fair wind, it could reach nine figures this season.
These riches come with fresh risks. Wage levels have rocketed in line with performances. We can afford our current operating levels – and can even afford an occasional reversal in the Champions League qualifiers, but there is a misalignment at the heart of what we are doing.
In his opening transfer window, Brendan added Moussa Dembele (who was already on the Ronny Deila target list) and Scott Sinclair. Both made a phenomenal contribution to the success which followed. This season, with Scott struggling to recapture his earlier form and Moussa hampered by injury, the big contributions have come from players who were at the club under the Ronny regime. Indeed, of the Celtic team which ended the year, only Olivier Ntcham was a Brendan Rodgers signing.
What we have added since the summer of 2016 is management expertise. Brendan took Ronny’s squad to levels none of us thought possible, but only two of his signings are automatic first-choice.
This is not necessarily against plan. When you sign French youth internationals like Ntcham and Edouard you do not expect them to immediately displace more experienced players. Players do not mature at the same rate – Kieran Tierney got their earlier than Kenny Dalglish, so if the plan is to recruit the best French and Scottish youth talent, patience will be required.
Notwithstanding this, Brendan will want to have more of his own signings grabbing starting slots in the big games. The players who were there under Ronny have made Herculean progress, but that invincible treble was their high point.
On that front, Lee Congerton joined in March as chief scout, a few months after the phenomenally successful John Park era ended. Scouting is as much about relationships as judgement and the environment is not conducive to friendship-making. Park’s job became increasingly difficult, despite his encyclopaedic knowledge of players sound judgement. Over his tenure, the Celtic proposition became comparatively less attractive.
The mere fact that Brendan Rodgers is manager changed this. Moussa didn’t sign for Ronny in January 2016 but put pen to paper for Brendan six months later. It is the job of Lee Congerton to make the most of the Celtic proposition, Brendan Rodgers and Champions League football to deliver players that can push us further in the Champions League.
Nothing of significance has changed in our chances of escaping our playing environment. We will remain in Scotland until at least the bubble inflating football incomes elsewhere bursts, most significantly of all in England. Within months the next England and Wales Premier League TV rights auction will conclude.
Premier League audiences have dwindled since the last rights were issued but Sky TV’s entire existence is predicated on winning a significant portion of these rights. The Premier League is trying to attract bids from Amazon and Facebook, so it is possible rights values could increase despite falling audience figures. But we can hope.
Until then, our role in the world is to dominate the life out of our domestic rivals, qualify for the Champions League and continue to add to the unique story of Celtic.
I loved every minute of being a Celtic supporter in 2017. It was thrilling, captivating and inspiring. Whatever it brings, your club will be an exciting place over the next 12 months. Enjoy it.
Take care and thank you for all your support. I hope you each have a Happy New Year and healthy 2018.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
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Happy new year everyone.
Thanks to paul67, twc etc.for the blog in an amazing year – thanks for putting lions at our finger tips, telling the celtic story by celtic people via the cqnbookstore.
A very big thanks to the mods who have sorted the blog out when it was being trolled.
thanks to the bloggers- an amazing year behind us , another one ahead.
Bobby., i have the Fidel McGrain t shirt also, the first I bought from Boca 10.
I will only buy a really standout t shirt from them now as some of hun ones they make have watp , British flags and are using orange in the t shirts.
I know its a business and has to make money but selling things which appeal to the base hun instinct, does not impress me .
BMCUWP
Just reading back!
Thanks!
I know when my luck is in and I do count my blessings every day.
Hope you have a great New Year!
JIMMYQUINNSBITS
Aye, Packy passed away a few years back. Used to see him in Tesco’s car park most mornings.
Told me a few stories about his bridge playing in Ireland.
He was a lovely man.
Who are you anyway?
Gies a hint!
Hope you have a great New Year!
Have we signed anyone yet?
Happy new year tae all the tims around the world.
God bless.
Neil Cameron! , a journalist my arse!!.
Jimroylecsc.
A Happy New Year to one and all.
JJ
Deniabhoy
Marvin Comperr ?
JJ
…and Marvin Compper.
A happy and healthy New Year to ALL CQN’ers everywhere, and to Celtic fans around the globe.
2017 was magnificent in so many ways, and heartbreaking in so many others. I hope 2018 is half as good and half as bad as the year just gone.
Peace and Love to all.
Except the Huns. Still waiting to exit the 20th Century.
Anyone have any news of MIGHTYTIM after his ankle operation the other day please?
Posted on here the op would take 8 hours.
Hope you are on the mend if you are looking in mate and hope you have a healthy and happy New Year.
Same to all our friends on here with health issues, get well soon!
Happy New Year to you all.
New Year Resolutions?
Start smoking again.
Put on some weight as everything is too big on me.
Start going out for an occasional pint with the troops.
Open an account with the local bookies.
Start speaking my mind!
Might start following the football again, that Celtic do okay. ☘️
Have a Fantastic New Year one and all.
Johnbay 10.32am
Hope you and all the family have a great 2018
Foreverinyourdebt CSC
Big Jimmy
Best of luck with the nags
Good morning and a happy New Year from an overcast but dry North Staffs – apparently local news here has Moussa going to Stoke.
GENE
Happy New Year to you too!
Any mention of the fee?
Philbhoy
No – but knowing stoke it will be a wedgewood tea set and 6 staffordshire oatcakes :)
don’t know whats happening with my computer but internet cutting out when I go to post refresh isn’t working and neither is f5 so posts or replies may be very limited :-))
Hope everyone is fully recovered from celebrating and ready for another record breaking year for the hoops
HH
GENE
The board ‘ll no accept that!
Paddy Gallagher on 1st January 2018 11:09 am
Go for it
HH
Happy New Year everyone. Hh
DALLASDALLAS
Saw your post to Bobby about the Boca t-shirts i have bought a lot of them , like you i’m not sure about the stuff he sells for the dark side ! The guy that owns it is a stickie bun he asked me in Silverburn once if i missed the ” old firm “games ? Simple answer NAW !
GORDON64
You too, hope you have a great New Year!
PADDYGALLAGHER
That sounds like a plan apart fae the smoking lol !
Compper (£1m) replacing Simunovic (£6m+).
Hendry (£1-1.5m) replacing Sviatchenko (£1.5m)
Arguably stronger in defence, at least we’ll have two players who are fit and want to be at CP, and & £5m+ profit to spend elsewhere.
Gooooood Morning CQN:-)
A very very Happy New Year to Celtic fans
Let’s enjoy a Happy, Healthy Celtic this year, as Brendan delivers a Double Treble
Hail Hail
Gary67
I believe we are due at least £9.35m from Southampton today as well
Although Catman tells us it’s £12.4 m – and he’s generally right :-))
Hail Hail
Happy New Year to one and all.
Simunovic ?
Signed a 4 year extension in September 2017.
Not saw much of Lewis Morgan or the Bhoy Hendry from Dundee but if Brendan does want these players he might even be with us for more than just a few years
Building his legacy
Tommy Burns CSC
HAPPY NEW YEAR & God bless all here
Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Armstrong and Dembele. 4 guys that don’t appear to be 100% committed, if so they need to be offloaded imo. When the going gets tough I’m not seeing any fight in any of them.
There are rumours that Boyata will be leaving in the summer too as he will only have one year left and hasn’t shown any interest in signing a new deal. As i posted previously there are question marks as to whether Rogic wants to stay, again he will enter his final year next season.
Wholesale changes could be in the offing.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 1ST JANUARY 2018 11:55 AM
Simunovic ?
Signed a 4 year extension in September 2017.
——–
And hasn’t kicked a ball since.
I wouldn’t be writing off Simonuvic either, he has been injured for a large part
Hail Hail
THETIMREAPER
You seem angry, somehow unhappy about the Celtic ?
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 1ST JANUARY 2018 12:07 PM
THETIMREAPER
You seem angry, somehow unhappy about the Celtic ?
———
I’ve never been happier thanks. Another bizarre post from you it has to be said. Try sticking to the subject matter.
Happy new year!
I have seen Bobby Madden , refereeing many games,he makes mistakes,who doesn’t,but all and all,I think he has been ok,we can’t blame the ref all the time especially if we are missing chance’s,and rotten playing,as for the gambling thing ,I thought it was in bad taste,talk about football fine,but when it gets personal,then that’s a different matter,and if a man or a woman like a bet,then it’s none of our business.
Too much squad rotation? Operating Costs rising? Only two of Brendan’s signings in the first team?
Lee Congerton having to use Brendan’s profile and CL football to attract players.
What happens to the Operating Costs when Sevco win the League, next season or the following season?
That’s why we’ll squirrel money away to bridge the gap when we hand them the CL Qualifiers and the income.
The Old Firm are back .
“but there is a misalignment at the heart of what we are doing.” P67
Happy New Year all…
It’s my belief that Brendan is building the club for the next decade(s), the next level. He’s stated as much.
It’s just we the fickle support live for today. The last result is the most important sets the tone. We blow like the wind.
I could imagine the vision is developing a team, a club for tomorrow. That obviously includes winning today, domestically and in the cash generating CL, without which we’d be gubbed.
Perhaps, we need to consider the ghosts of all Christmases: Past; Present AND Yet to Come ?
The last vision is too often ignored on here.