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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Kewis Morgan outs Buddies 1 up at Morton. 3 in last 2 games
Ooops – Lewis Morgan puts Buddies 1 up at Morton. 3 goals in last 2 games (so far)
Auldheid
Proper management of existing facilities and services would be a start
Perhaps to a standard where that reflects what the customer has paid for.
Whisk the food offerings and operations from the Celtic 70’s timewarp
Technology has advanced and can help
Customers taste and needs are different in 2018
How many valuable licences are there for vendors around the park
I know we have some say in them, get them out to tender for some decent operations
from the top of my head
Sorry CQN – I made a mistook.
HPB wisnae brought into this World in 1888,
Secret Doctrine Worshipping Lucy was.
Old age.
Crowley
and so many
AA are promoting this guff.
Who owns the channels?
mike in toronto on 2nd January 2018 3:12 pm
on the poll question, as others have suggested, it is not an either or type of question (see Saltire’s post @ 1:41), but if I have to pick, I’d have to say ‘no’.
Matthew 16:26
If I can explain … Celtic was first and foremost, from its inception, a force for good … football was not the ends, it was the means ….to raise funds to feed the less fortunate …. of course, you need money to do that … but the money was the means to the ends, not the end in and of itself…
in the modern context, to me, that means standing up against cheating, corruption and bigotry, and generally doing good … based on the last six years, it seems like the bank balance and trophies have become the primary end, and our Board has been prepared to turn a blind eye to what is going on, in order to protect the bottom line …of course, things like the Charity still do a lot of good, but, like the question posed, I dont think it is as simple as a binary dualism, pick one or the other ….
does this mean that Celitc could have cleaned house all on its own? of course not. But, could we have done more than we seen to have done? Almost certainly. and standing up for our core values is more important to me than trophies or a bulging bank account.
============================
I took part in a Celtic Underground podcast last year when I was asked what I expected of Celtic on the Res12 issue. My answer was do the right thing and by that I meant protect the values that I thought Celtic stood for which you have articulated.
My jury is still out but I remain ever hopeful the right thing (as I see it) will be done.
However we all see and support Celtic for different reasons and values are not the top of everyone’s agenda and values held can differ.
The ancient aliens mince is hpb bullsh!t -Expanded.
Accelerator.
Wake up.
WAKE uP.
Well taken goal by Master Morgan
Saints playing fitba , some good young players on show
Bbc Alba live now
TEN BOOM .?
There are 2 related movies –
THE HIDING PLACE
RETURN TO THE HIDING PLACE
Evolution is the…..
Ones from another Galaxy.
Time is Time.
Time for evolution to see the utter Dumbing down of America…..Kimstigator
The channels, so much tele, so much crap interspersed with lies and deception.
Evolution is an incredible Lie – I certainly wisnae a Fish before. FFS . Learned but Stupid?
I’m aff outski for a lie down.
In the winter of 1885 a breakfast meal of a large bowl of porridge was also introduced to the penny dinner scheme. The scheme presented the families of the parish with new options regarding their children’s welfare and education and it also provided the Catholic Church locally with a formidable challenge to the growing threat from soup kitchens, Gospel Tents and Evangelical Halls in Glasgow who used food as the means of tempting under-nourished Catholics – and especially children – into abandoning their faith. Irishmen such as Father Noonan and Brother Walfrid were well aware of the risks posed by evangelical Protestant missionary societies to their parishioners. During An Gorta Mor such aggressive missionary activities were common throughout Ireland, offering sustenance for the body as well as the mind of those prepared to ‘turn’ from their religious convictions. Those who succumbed to the temptations of the Protestant soup kitchens were commonly referred to by the derogatory phrase of ‘taking the soup’ or soup-takers, a label that has survived down the years.
https://the-shamrock.net/2016/09/18/glengarry/amp/
Ciao for now
Celtic will rock Big style.
Zenit will be hard to beat, if we beat em, expect a trip to Lyon.
Watching the Morton v Saints on alba, took me 20 mins before I realised it wisnae Andy Walker talking.
H.H
The concept of a sports club being set up for charitable purposes was ground-breaking and Brother Walfrid oversaw the development of Celtic and continued to manage the Penny Dinner scheme at Sacred Heart school through to his departure to London in 1892. He therefore missed the remarkable scenes outside Sacred Heart Church in 1905 when thousands turned out to mourn the passing of an early hero of the club he founded. Barney Battles was a hugely popular Celtic player in two spells between 1895 and 1905, winning two Scottish Cups and one League title, and a Scottish internationalist. He died suddenly from pneumonia at the family home on London Road within a year of leaving Celtic. Following requiem mass at Sacred Heart a cortege of over 2,000 followed Barney to his resting place at St Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeth via Celtic Park. It was estimated that a crowd of over 40,000 lined the route. It was one of the biggest funerals the parish has ever witnessed.
https://the-shamrock.net/2016/09/18/glengarry/amp/
Auldheid … my client is late, so I thought I would take a moment to reply ….
I think you and I would agree on most things, I believe, and you are one of the CQN’ers I would enjoy getting to know better … and hope one day to have the chance to do so.
I think you and I (and probably a lot of others) want the same things, but have different ideas on how best to achieve those ends … and that is okay.
And the four of you have my respect for the work you guys have put in on Res 12. regardless of how it all plays out, you 4 guys stood up and were counted, and did what you thought was right ….for me, I cannot pay anyone a higher compliment than that.
And others on here may think that (i) focusing on ‘ethics’ first is not what Celtic is or should be about, particularly in today’s age, or (ii) ridiculously naive … or whatever … and that is okay….
as we say, Celtic is a broad church ….
I wont and cant force my views on anyone … if people disagree with my views, that is okay …. it is up to me to try to convince them of the soundness of my approach …. or be open to being convinced that a different approach or view is preferable …. and I have learned alot over the years on CQN , and , to my surprise, changed my view on certain things …..
for the most part, CQN’ers are respectful of different views, and I I appreciate P67 for giving us the chance to discuss the issues, and have our say … and, hopefully, some good will come out of the last six years …. only time will tell.
If it does work out the way I hope, I hope that the work you Res. 12 guys have done is formally recognized by the Club and the fans at large.
Yes, the club seems to be in (very) good nick but as St Brendan says “We must keep improving”.
This period will see where our board is at
– will Brendan get the dosh to spend on some quality upgrades
– will the club start to properly improve the fans’ facilities in the ground
50 SHADES OF GREEN on 2ND JANUARY 2018 3:53 PM
Watching the Morton v Saints on alba, took me 20 mins before I realised it wisnae Andy Walker talking.
**********
Cracker- worthy of a BSR award
JOHN51 on 2ND JANUARY 2018 2:55 PM
AULDHEID on 2ND JANUARY 2018 2:14 PM
To our shame, Celtic fans boo many of those who have given the club so much.
* was once told by someone who was in the Jungle that day that Jimmy Delaney was booed when he returned playing for falkirk, why? he had the cheek tae leave us for manure. a move encouraged by the Celtic management in gratitude for his services tae the club and also to give him more money.
Floater @ 3:16 next Sevco fixture on !0th March playing Motherwell away on St Pats day H H Hebcelt
Ooops 10th March
Just watched Morton’s game on Alba. Now convinced more than ever that Clancy is a very poor referee. Oh, and if just once he could smile, it might convince me that he is not a robot sent out by the SFA to play according to their rules.
Thx hebcelt
Got carried away with the thought of Guinness during the match and again in the evening, was going to get into training for a double figures session … misread the fixture list.
Floatin (maybe)
TONTINE TIM on 2ND JANUARY 2018 4:33 PM
JOHN51 on 2ND JANUARY 2018 2:55 PM
AULDHEID on 2ND JANUARY 2018 2:14 PM
It’s not nice to hear. I remember standing in the Jungle in the 70s aged about 14 and being dismayed at the abuse doled out to Tommy Callaghan.
I suppose you pay your money and you can shout what you want, but it’s not ‘support’ and it’s not likely to help the team or the player. Just my opinion.
CQN Late Shift
Just watched the second half of Morton-St Mirren.
If that’s the standard in the top echelon of Scottish football’s second tier – oh dear. Agricultural doesn’t cover it, especially from Morton.
There was one challenge from a Morton player – studs up, both feet off the ground, straight through the back of the St Mirren man in possession. Yellow card. In any other league I can think of, straight red, no complaints.
Our potential new signing had a quiet half. Can’t say I blame him.
Giving the green light to cloggers is keeping Scottish football anchored 30 years behind the times. And we suffer more than most.
BSR
:))))))))))))
Every row except the very last row in Celtic Park has a guy behind shouting at somebody in the Hoops.
Probably too slow for the support to accompany at Celtic Park but a very fine rendition nevertheless:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQze9nTh-qo
Leftclick
We signed anybody yet?
02/01/2018
There seems to have been quite a few posts decrying the standard of catering at Celtic Park.
Mibbes aye , mibbes no.
In recent years, I haven`t been to many other grounds so I don`t know how we compare with those others. I have, thouh, been to Celtic Park hundreds of times over the last ten years and have also been to Twickenham and Murrayfield many times. Of primary importance at ALL of these venues has been the fare on the field and the general experience of the day.
Celtic Park compares well with these other famous grounds and on some European nights, exceeds by far any sporing event I have ever attended.
JJ
JJ
HS
That’s ole Roy just finished walking on ( thumbsup © philvis )
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND JANUARY 2018 5:29 PM
Every row except the very last row in Celtic Park has a guy behind shouting at somebody in the Hoops.
That spoils my enjoyment more than anything that might happen on the park.
BSR
Glad you liked it…..just as I liked your `very last row ` comment.
JJ
Hot Smoked,
With respect, you are not comparing like with like.
At Murrayfield fans savour the atmosphere in beer tents outside the ground and they are treated like adults inside .
We should have similar consideration.
HH.
GLENDALYS
Guy behind me on Saturday was either Madmitch or Neganon2
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND JANUARY 2018 5:59 PM
GLENDALYS
Guy behind me on Saturday was either Madmitch or Neganon2
========
If said guy berated players and/or performance using initials then I suspect it is MM.
I sit in the last row (right in front of the soft seats) and during the Aberdeen game there was a guy in those soft seats who did nothing but shout abuse at the team. And that was a game we won against our nearest challengers……
“I love Celtic and I always will. I am proud to have played over 250 games for the club and to have played for the team for seven years, winning leagues and cups and had great nights in the Champions League. It’s part of my life.”
Georgios Samaras
That might waken a few up….:)
http://www.ozcelts.com/hoops-sign-australian-from-rogics-old-club/
New signing….