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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MIT
Don’t know if you can get BBC2 over there but I noticed you posting a while back about Mavis Staples, she is one of the guests tonight on Jools Holland Hootenanny. According to my TV guide.
KEEP THE FAITH
TONYROME on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 3:33 PM
Hi Bhoys/Paul 67
“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.”
That’s pretty much all I’ve asked for. By dominate I mean win the league.
*aye me tae, i remember oul Bartholomew Dick singing “we’ll be there to give the Bhoys a cheer when the league flag flies” and i thought no in my lifetime but when he continued with “and it cheers us up when we know the Scottish Cup is coming home to rest at Paradise” I thought that’s more like it, that is until the Jock led Pars took care of us in the replay.
Then Jock came hame.
Gerryfaethebrig
Although the game was almost over, Man City saw out the last minute or so with 10 men so the players’ side that committed the offense benefited from it.
If say a team has made their 3 subs and have 30 mins to go, then this type of tackle that is punished with a yellow could see the innocent team play short handed for 30 mins.
Not right for me.
Tontine Tim,
Talking about Tom Barry Country. Did I ever tell yeez I have had the pleasure of meeting & shaking hands with the great man on a few occasions & once shared a Public Platform with him circa 1964/65
He was about 68 at the time & I was just a young fella of 16 or 17
We were both on a Protest against the visit of a British Naval Warship to Cork. I remember thinking I was talking to an ancient man,
Next week I’ll be seventy myself, so what does that make me.
Proud to say I was involved in one of the last campaigns led by General Tom Barry albeit we didn’t shoot anybody.
Mind you there was a volley of shots fired at the ship as she left the Harbour but that was more symbolic then trying to actually shoot anyone.
Gene, Agreed pal nothing at all funny about your Moniker,
Minceyheidman 4.08pm
Totally agree, Kevin De Bruyne could do more in 10mins than many players could do in a whole game
I don’t somebody putting in a decent tackle but the nasty sleekit (mcculloch / lafferty n co) are pretty poor
Am pretty glad I can’t renember seeing any sleekit wearing the hoops what I have saw
10mins should be 1min (and any injury time :-)
Hot Smoked
Apologies
Corkcelt happy 70th Birthday next week I look forward to you posting prior to your 80th :-)
Hail Hail
Gerryfaethebrig
Hopefully now that it has been highlighted in ” that there Engerlund” somebody may bring it to the table.
Unfortunately look at the people on the IFAB board that change the laws.
Wouldn’t hold my breath.
Corkcelt
Now you make me sound miserable :((
The law change needed is 30 mins each way ball in play – time wasting would be a thing of the past
CORKCELT on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 4:10 PM
We had no idea who Tom Barry was, Kevin aye, until the “10 bob album” complete with the Boys of Kilmichael came oot, it was sung often on the Balloch tae Brigton blue train.
It has been said that other organisations including the mafia adopted his cell philosophy in which only a few actually knew what was going on meaning less chance of someone touting.
Hiya Hot Smoked:
As we used to say in West Lothian, ” A’ the best when it comes”, Hope this helps
Still my all time favourite songs Tontine,
I am also very friendly with the son of another major figure from that era who was Tom Barry’s right hand man at the time.
They remained life long friends till their death.
The friend I talk about is also a Celtic Supporter & the two of us have been over together to Glasgow for a few games.
Here’s a wee repost from previous which pretty much echoes my sentiments
*
LYNCHIEBHOY on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 3:14 PM
Happy New Year to all CQN’ers. Enjoy and here’s to another successful 2018 as a Celtic fan.
MARTIN42
Health and happiness. My wishes for you for 2018.
Wealth is useless without them.
HH
2017 was a great year for the Hoops here’s to another in 2018!
Man City 0 CP 0 MCQN in meltdown!
Health, happiness and peace to you and yours in the new year!
Hail hail!!
THECELT45,
Thank you.
Happy New Year from Brunei
At least 2017 has ended not too bad Exeter Rugby Union -22 at 4/1
Note to self never bet on rugby ever again it’s nearly as bad as darts
TonsThomasCSC :-)
State of the Club
Well Paul, I found your piece miss-leading at best and pandering to the ‘BISKIT TIN’ mentality thoroughly in force by the board. Almost 90 million made last year and we scrounge players like a corner tinker with his begging bowl. It’s shameful. Yet you, in your address, do not mention it. I’ve noticed that the majority of social media boards seem to adopt a cringing, sycophantic approach to the strategy of the board. Yes, you included. A facile, unstructures ramble that bears no thorough report on the actual state of the club. Sweeping statements and generic clauses used to cover up a distinct opportunity to constructively criticise the board as well as St Brendan.
Results
Go on Paul, where is the European results in your ramble? Go on then mate, enlighten me. Once we qualified by overcoming European donkeys we were well and truly thrashed. One result an exception. Then the cat was well and truly out of the bag – press us and we’re shite. But still St Brendan persisted all the way round Europe, humping after humping, then to pastures green round our poxy league until Hearts thumped us as well. Same tactics same outcome – humped. Now come on Paul me old China, where’s that in your report or was your head stuck up Lawell’s ass as you wrote it?
Utter pish mate. You write guff and you should be shamed into rewriting this trash and make it utterly objective.
Transfers
2 kids from Dundee and St Mirren. Described as ‘Premier division signing. Two fuggin kids to break into Europe. Are you kidding me???? That’s our strategy for next season? 2 fugging kids???
Hail hail to all
Thanks for the blog
BILLYBHOY007
Don’t sit on the fence!
Gerry- you done well digging that one out.
Buzzzzzzzzzzz
Bada Bing
The clue was in “miss-leading” only one S and no hyphen:-)
Gerryfaethebrig 4.57.
Nice one.
My good friend has 8 quid on Cross at 16/1 to win it.
Both players are 10/11 in final, so he is going to lay off a bit of the bet.
Thanks for reading my post earlier.
TonsThomas CSC.
Hail Hail
I left the ground absolutely seething yesterday at what I thought was a really poor performance and a second half that was the worst 45 mins domestically of BR’ s reign.
I’ve just watched the whole game and a few things surprised me.
Firstly, Armstrong was much more involved than I thought. Dembele was as uninvolved as I thought, which sadly is the story of his season.Sinclair, despite being largely uninvolved (for him) was involved in everything good that we did. Had he buried his two chances we would probably have gone on to win 5-0 and I would have 10 points in GG3.
I thought Forrest and McGregor had better games and were a bit more involved than it seemed.
Our best performers were Broony, Ajer and Boyata. For the fourth consecutive game.
Lustig is finished. 4 unforced errors is just not on. Had that been a CL match we would have been severely punished.
KT is a shadow of the player of last season.too many games perhaps for his young legs? Hopefully, this enforced break will do him the world of good.
Which leaves Craig Gordon. Spilled the first shot at him and lucky that Kenny Miller wasn’t around. A couple of good saves to keep us in it ( scandalous to have to actually write that!), but he’s never going to do as a sweeper keeper. His distribution is woeful.
Overall, one of Brendans poorest days at the office. We really need a good transfer window to recalibrate the team who appear to be running on fumes.
Brendan has worked wonders with a largely inherited squad but I hadn’t been conscious of just how few first team regulars/semi regulars have been Brendan’s recruits.
Brendan makes noises of contentment but I’m sure he is itching to really start building HIS team. Of course he is happy to wait patiently while ‘projects’ morph into first team regulars but it is time to spend money on some players who have already reached the required standard. It needs to be a bit more of a two tier strategy.
Bada Bing – hello my friend, an update on my friend J McG and his son G the firefighter who died G worked out of Newark for 19yrs, J his father Hamilton, Cowcaddens and Mansfield retired a while.
HH
JNP 5.18
I was finishing at 2.30pm on Friday and went to email you to say hope you and the family have a great New Year but I noticed you actually put on your out of office time you left 1pm and not back till 8/1/18…. jammy bam
Your out of office is in working order
Enjoy your break :-)
Onemalloy- i served moat of my time at Parkhead and in the city, awful time for his family and friends, may he RIP, and a better year ahead for you and all concerned HH
Gerryfaethebrig.
Thanks :-))
Hail Hail
BMCUW,
Thank you for your good wishes for me in 201. I have been incapacitated now from early September and will probably be for another 4 /6 months. I had an accident at work suffering a knee injury which required surgery in late September. However th surgery worked but the knee has not responded to physiotherapy and am walking on n 2 crutches since then with no sign of the needed further surgery on the horizon. We live in hope.
Martin42
*most
Celtic have now gone two consecutive calendar years without losing a home game domestically. 742 days since the last Home defeat.
ORKCELT on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 4:40 PM
Still my all time favourite songs Tontine,
*there’s a working class section in the tory bastion of Helensburgh (home of naesurname and a host of ebt players) called Kirkmichael.
They used tae run a CSC fae there before they amalgamated with the Lomond CSC. Stories about threats tae hhhhhately for his involvement with a local Bonnie Banks businessman’s daughter and naesurname emanated fae there.
JNP
I will now cheer on the Cross guy, last week I was tempted at putting a few quid on Taylor (10/1) but like the people who actually know their stuff I thought MVG was a cert, the price attracted me to Taylor but alas fir once I kept my money in the bank (that is quite unusual)
BILLYBHOY007 on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 5:06 PM
#########
HH fella, your post was the equivalent of, Celts For Change taking out a double page spread in the Celtic View 1993/94 ;
Keep it lit.
HH
….oot