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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Bid = Big
Jimmynotpaul, long may Paddy’s and my son’s run continue against the second of the Ibrox clubs .
Its an unbelievable time to be a Celtic supporter and its so pleasing that each of our sons is at an age where they can fully appreciate what a period we are going through , domestically.
Mon the hoops.
Good night all and sleep well .
GENE. anything your drinking is good enough for me ,im only in deepest darkest cheshire jct 20 m6 your probably jct 15, if you wanna meet for a swally anytime just let me know.hh.
JIMMYNOTPAUL/DALLASDALLAS
What’s the chances of getting some junior fitba this weekend ? Girvan have a tough schedule coming up starting with Rob Roy on Saturday , good news about your wife JNP
Big Packy
email me genesabhoysname@gmail.com and we can make arrangements for later
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Reading back
Great stuff about your Mrs
I will keep you and her in my prayers
HH
Park Road 67 , I hope you and your family had a good new year.
Clydebank were scheduled to play at Girvan this Saturday but they now play away at Cumnock.
Going by the 5 day weather forecast on the BBC website for the West of Scotland , tomorrow and Thursday will be chucking it down with it being dry and clear Friday and Saturday but with freezing overnight temperatures on Friday night. Not a good mix weatherwise for junior games this Saturday.
If anyone lives round about Shawlands , Newands , Pollok , Giffnock , Murend areas , Pollok are playing a local derby, if the game is on, against Arthurlie , if they fancy going to a game on Saturday .
DALLASDALLAS
Aye all good here hope it’s the same at your end , Girvan fixtures have changed twice in last week but as you say was originally Clydebank this weekend , aye weather might be the winner again ! HH !
Only an Excuse…..embarassing….
Park Road 67 , no doubt most junior clubs will be paying 3 games a week in late April , May and early June ,this year catching up with postponed fixtures.
Zquarters definitely for me now.
did someone mention girvan ah summer holdays the ailsa craig whats not to like.
Girvan = Holyrood school day trip = memories
BIGPACKY
Ailsa Craig is the view from my front door never get tired of seeing it !
GENE. for some reason our school st augustines coatbridge allways went to ayr on our school trips feckin always raining didnt stop us going into the sea though.
PARK ROAD 67. you lucky ghuy wish i was there.lol.
BIGPACKY
You need to get yourself down here for a beer sometime !
Kouassi probably going out on loan, Morgan medical tomorrow (tomorrow’s chip wrappers)
PARK ROAD67. definitely buy you one no problem. hh.
Gary67
What did you think of Morgan ?
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 2ND JANUARY 2018 1:10 PM
66 dying at a fitba match saw a media flurry re the absurdity of that Old Firm bigotry and hate guff .
Celtic View said this –” They must see in the light of this appalling tragedy how futile, barren and petty their ancient feuds are “.
*It was a dreich but dry day as I set out with my neighbour RIP, who had played the game professional but a cartilage problem ended it while still in his teens, we went tae a pub originally called Kelly’s and allegedly the one Celtic bought apprentice joiner and amateur James as they enticed him from his home village team Renton, and then ontae the Vale of Leven CSC bus which was parked at the bottom of a street which houses the pagan “big hoose” as it’s known down there.
As it pulled out of Gilmour Street onto the Main Street “Hail Hail” was in full flow, I noticed Mrs TT and the 2 weans waiting at the Fountain for the bus tae Dumbarton, they cheerfully waved to me. I would return that night, many other dads, spouses, siblings and weans widnae.
As we made our way word filtered through that big Billy would once again be out of the side due to his poor form, this IMHO would prove very significant later that day due to circumstances beyond our control.
We were 1 point and 1 GD behind the sheep having lost to them at Parkheid 3 weeks previously; John Fallon who had a very good game and had kept the score down to 0-1 having replaced Evan Williams was surprisingly dropped. We were also 8 points and 15 GD ahead of deidco.
We had already beaten them 3-1 in the GC Final with practically a reserve side in front of almost 60,000 at the national stadium, another trophy they were favourite tae win as they fielded 10 first teamers plus reserve goalie Watson who had been on trial with us but chose them, similar tae dickie valentine 13 year earlier at the same venue he never played for them again. Captain for the night big Tam got 2 and the Mighty Quinn the 3rd. . Their greatest ever player got a consolation goal for them, incidentally 8 of that side world play in the ECWC at the Nou Camp less than 2 year later with the goal scorer being presented with the trophy in the lavvy which indicates the enormity of our reserve sides victory.
5 weeks later on Danny McGrain’s hun debut we won comfortably 2-0 with the luxury of a missed Brogie penalty in the 2nd minute who only took it as big Tam was injured and Harry Harry bottled it, so heading tae Govan we were more than confident of winning even though it had been 50 year since we had won this fixture.
Our half back line that fateful day was Brogan, Connelly and Hay, this was the future of Celtic I thought, big Tam was captain, the wee mhan who been dropped at the same time as Billy for a similar reason was also back in the side, but Yogi and Bobby Murdoch were missing.
It was the usual tousy game under slippery conditions, if it hadn’t been the Glasgow derby it may have been postponed but with a huge 80,000 all ticket crowd possibly fuelled with fire water this may not have been the safest decision.
We were on top with wee Jinky running riot and Brogie looking tae be the MOTM crashing intae tackles, with the Clydeside fog descending it looked as if the game might not finish, however as much as we were on top it looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw and then with the copland road section in full cry about not surrendering the buzz bomb broke away as only he could, wallop an exocet crashed off the bar, spun up in the air and the wee-est player on the park, not for the first time, headed us intae the lead, oh happy days as the war tunes very quickly silenced and the huns beside us in the cooshed departed.
Unfortunately from a shy the ball is knocked forward only for the Fife Beckenbauer to nod weakly out and the rest is as they say sad history. I still say to this day, and this is no disrespect to George, that if Big Billy had been playing he would have probably cleared it better. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.
So a subdued Celtic support made its way round to the only exit at that end of the woefully inadequate crowd friendly ground. As a sombre support sat on the bus the sounds of sirens were resonating in the air, no big deal, this was a common theme at these games. With no radio coverage or social media available we were all oblivious to what was actually going on, people were dying while we were trying to leave the ground.
I went straight home rather urinated off at seeing a victory quickly disappear when the phone went, it was my da, “that was some disaster” he said, “aye imagine losing a goal in the last minute”. I thought he was going tae come down the phone at me, the word eejit echoed in the air. It was about then he realised I didnae know what had occurred as I turned the tele on. Mrs TT then phoned fae Dumbarton and a sigh of relief came over the receiver.
Off I went tae the nearest pub which was a bluenose one, as soon as I walked in their fears were realised. ‘You at the gemme Tontine”, ‘Aye”, “did you see what happened”, “Naw”, .and then the phrase stairway 13 was mentioned.
It was a very sad and sombre country as the extent of what had happened started tae permeate the minds and if my memory serves me well there was limited coverage of the game in the smsm.
Celtic FC were magnificent in their response from Big Jock and the backroom staff attending the injured and dying to all members of the club attending services for the repose of the souls of the dead in the various religious institutions. Money was collected around the country in the pubs, clubs and workplaces, including Petec’s wonderful grampa a true socialist and humanitarian at my place of employment at the time.
A friendly in aid of the disaster fund was arranged between a select of both sides and the national team. Both Jock and his counterpart were to choose the select side, however the Big Mhan conceded the task to waddle so it was a pretty lopsided select side with only 3 Celts, Peter Bonetti, Bobby Charlton and Georgie Best in it, the rest were from the southside of Glasgow.
The Scotland squad was evenly balanced with 2 from either side although big Cairney who replaced Frank McLintock, who was required for a cup replay, in the squad came on as a sub.
A crowd of 81,000 were treated to a 2-1 victory for the national side with big Tam and Peter Lorimer scoring and Georgie Best with the only goal for the select.
Nevertheless, all the good will that had been talked about for the past 25 days came to an end when the chant of “Gemmell is a bassa” roared out from the Mount Florida end. Derby’s young Paisley born midfielder of the same name actually stopped when he heard it only for the Big Shot to allegedly remind him it was he they were chanting about.
To further sicken the average Scot Deidco later tried (unsuccessfully) to have all of the disaster fund, or the £50,000 they had paid into it used as compensation in the event they were found liable for damages.
I know this may come across as a bit harsh given the subject but even in their grief they just cannae help themselves.
BIGPACKY
Sounds like a plan !
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 2ND JANUARY 2018 11:21 PM
Best player on the park in the first half. Second half St Mirren were hardly in it so he spent a lot of time working back and helping the full back. He’s two footed, quick, composed on the ball and a very good passer. Looks a prospect that could progress under BR.
bada bing
i think harry kane could be one of the great cfs.
TONTINE TIM. was there that day came out with my cousin when we were winning 1-0 suddenly feckin big roar fromthe rangers end,curiously remember the sirens which wasnt unual for a derby but there were more sirens than ive ever heard. rip the 66 could have been at our end.
I hope BR is as aware of the positions that need strengthening , if he is and he is allowed to buy quality , then maybe that will put an end to us getting bullied by the likes of Motherwell . Hearts and that outfit from govan . If he doesn,t , then let’s all pray nothing happens to broonie. Not to confident on major cash being spent .
big packy.
was at the game with my bro inlaw left before a goal was scored. heard the roar and won of the bhoys ran by us shouting 1 0. soon after heard another roar,they had scored.
home to the inlaws my parents were there and that is when we found out about the disaster, i dont think they new about the deaths being at the rangers end but a big relief to see that we were ok.
TIMHORTON yes when our supporters bus turned into glenboig there must have been a hundred people waiting for news harrowing.
Barney battles is maybe the best name for a footballer ever.
God bless the man. His story should be revered more in Celtic annuals.
On a change of subject. Spent the holidays researching family tree, all branches , green and orange. It’s fascinating what you can find out.
Highly recommend Scotland s people website easy to join easy to search.
Also, spent a wee bit of time looking out Celtic great s.
It’s online. Go for it.
Tontine tim.
Cap doffed. For those sad recollections.
Long time no post lads but does anyone have the code for the Celtic quicknews fantasy premier league? I have won it a few times in the past and was leading this year until I seem to have deleted the league from my page. HH and happy New year
Saint Stivs on 3rd January 2018 12:45 AM
Barney Battles. I’ve seen your post and went back two pages but I’ve missed anything written.
He lies in the line of Celts in Dalbeth. There’s a great story to be heard about our guys clearing his space. Maybe the first Celt to have his own song.
reading about the ibrox disaster brouht to mind where i was back then, i was on a ship in stockton
a port in california, when the news came through it was a big shock to us all ( mostly scottish crew )
then one of the ship’s engineers said something like “aw naw why oor end ” i was speechless i don’t
think he was aware of what he had said really , he had an italian surname i remember, and seemed
like a good shipmate but after that i was wary about him so it just shows you can never tell
gerry123
The Blarney Pilgrims : The Galtee Mountain Boy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSJ93iJSftk
There may be trouble ahead (which is what happens when you let an elephant in the room.
https://www.sfm.scot/the-elephant-in-the-room/comment-page-1/#comment-165174
Cognitive Dissonance.
Cognitive Dissonance.
Cognitive Dissonance.
Am I baxk in Kansas yet?
Nope, must still be CQN favourite bullshite phrase then.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Have never issued a statement on the same club continuity myth.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Got rid of NFL with his sweetener contingent on him signing an NDA because he proved Celtic were being cheated by SFA refs.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Waited 7th out of 12 before voting NO for hun reentry to the SPL.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
PL was in the SFA at the time
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
The 5 way agreement.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Still lying after 5 years on res 12.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Disclose personal details of fans to the police.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Banned the GB
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Dont take Europe seriously prefer the bigot buck.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Still lying about awaiting a judicial review.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Glorious balance sheet £90m us v £0 them
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
“25 years ae Murray Mibbery wiped oot, fur £49. ”
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
last I heard it was 0-0
still canny beat them
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Internet bampots
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
5 years and counting
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
nay 25 years and counting
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
nay 140 years and counting
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Its windy, and raining.
BARNEY67
I’ve been out in it all night. Trees down,vehicles in ditches,localised flooding.
Etc.
If I’d wanted weather like this,I’d have stayed in Scotland!
Hope everyone is ok.