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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Birds of a feather.
Kev
You ok with the tinker comment ?
It’s a rhetorical question
Great minds think alike and trust me fools seldom differ :-)
No idea who or what BillyBhoy is, but most Celtic fans I know would agree with at least one part of his post -which is we need to spend money on 2-3 players who are significantly better than any Dundee or St Mirren prospects
Don’t tell me that for 6-8 million we can’t get C L level players from Eastern Europe or Scandinavia to come to us an-route to EPL. Players who are 21-24 years of age and maybe 3-4 years away from their peak earning power but already playing in Euro and/or int. football.
We need more than just kids and projects to get through 4 CL qualifying rounds in 7 months time.
Jungle bells to Paul 67
and all his staff and family
at CQN mansions. HH
Jungle bells to all Celts when
they jingle fae the Jungle later on ;
……oot.
MARTIN42 on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 5:27 PM
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 the 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.
*good luck Martin, the old saying that old age disnae come alone is so true. years trying tae play fitba and climbing up and doon scaffolds have left a toll with me but at least I’m still here.
Gerryfaethebrig.
I had a good day yesterday bet a few winners.
Gave my wife some and have some to play with at Cheltenham tomorrow.
Hail Hail
Hun
To genuine cqn’rs
Best wishes for 2018
Up north. Party near Loch Ness…..Wh…..
FOR U T
HH
BMCUW
“Where I disagree is that every criticism is a dagger in our heart. ”
And I would disagree with that statement too. Do you know anyone who stated that proposition?
Kev
I know I shouldn’t bite
There were many more that stood in the jungle and actually still like Celtic
Hope you keep well and have a great 2018
But for me (sorry Weebawbabbity) you type posts like you don’t enjoy being a Celtic fan
Weebawbabbity off for 3 weeks !!! Hope you have a great cruise and you are feeling much better
Hail Hail
Hod on hod on, there 2 Billy Bhoys on here i’m confused, doesnt take much mind you.
Away tae work, HNY.
JNP
I was waiting on Central Coast Mariners ???? For a both teams to score £1 Yankee and a couple of quid Accie today after Juventus, Porto & Rio Ave all stoated last night …. but gave the good lady £70 today and leaves me £30 for New Year’s Day coupons
Thankfully my good lady appreciates I love betting ….. but again I only put on what she allows me too lose :-)
billybhoy007 on 31st December 2017 5:06 pm
It was actually more than £90m :)
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41340467
More tinkerbell than tinker
Just think it’s sad that guys who purport to be Celtic Supporters, appear to be waiting in the shadows to pop out whenever we have a poor display to spread their venom.
Seems to me, they put themselves and their need to be both right & noticed ahead of their desire to see the team do well.
As far as I’m concerned 2017 has been an outstanding year for Celtic,
2018 is a new page, the transfer window is hugely important, I think 3 or 4 do need to go to free up places in the squad and I also feel we need to get in a couple of established Players rather than projects or one’s for the future.
Then it all starts again against Brechin.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 5:44 PM
Kev I know I shouldn’t bite
There were many more that stood in the jungle and actually still like Celtic
*aye wan right here, I don’t just like them I love the Celtic
Sitting looking out the window at a dreary New Years Eve.
Sean South I salute you.
Putting the Empire on the run.
C Q Nrs,UK and all over the World, Happy New Year,all the best for 2018, hopefully Timbhoy 1or 2 comes back on here,a lot didn’t like some of his views on here,but by God he got a lot of Responses and backs up on here,
CORKCELT
I’ll tell Wee BGFC that you were pals with Tom Barry – he’ll be made up!
One of the wee man’s favourite songs includes reference to your pal’s exploits “…Seán Treacy, Dinny Lacey and Tom Barry’s gallant crew…”
Wee BGFC will be singing “The Rifles” all night now :-)
Happy birthday in due course, and Peaceful New Year to everyone when it comes !!!
Hail Hail to the Celtic
BGFC
I sat down to watch yesterday’s without an ounce of tension in my bones expecting a Celtic demolition job and instead we nearly got ambushed as Les Blues adopted the high press tactic employed by Anderlecht some weeks ago. That being said, this game was enjoyable as a contest and if this becomes the tactical blueprint of SPL teams there may be many more exciting games to come in 2018. If teams are prepared to have a go Celtic’s tactics will have to change with quicker more accurate one touch passing.
Seeing our defenders put under this high press in SPFL games and not having to wait until the big games against European opponents is the only way Brendan can really assess what sort of quality he has in defence. Quite surprised to hear that Brendan has only signed two players during his tenure at the club.
It’s been another great year for the club both on the park and financially. Thanks to Paul for giving us amateur scribblers a platform to air our views on the blog and wishing you a happy and healthy 2018 and the rest of CQNers’
I
Gerryfaethebrig.
Good turn Gerry but nearly a great one.
Maybe tomorrow will be your day.
Hail Hail
BGFC, Pals would be an exaggeration but as I said I have shook his hand & met him a few times.
Tontine Tim 5.54pm
You obviously know far more about Celtic than I ever will, the Jungle was magic but as a wee guy fae Coatbrig in the 80’s sometimes being in the “jungle” sometimes was a bit nervy in case the big bad easterhouse Bhoys were lurking around, sometimes getting back to Carntyne was also a worry :-)
Great memories
UsainBoltCSC
NevergotcaughtCSC
JJ
Happy New Year’s Eve to you or as Pedro says ‘Hugmamoney’. :-)
MWD
Is there any way we can actually accommodate the good and bad points of the year just about to go? The group stage results have been embarrassing and we have certainly gone off the boil since this season started, even drawing with Sevco and letting Hearts pump us senseless. Set against this is the otherwise undefeated record run, holding every domestic trophy available to us, playing some great football last season and coining in enough cash to fund a continued dominance of the Scottish game. Some will focus on the negatives, some on the positives. For me, sure things could be even better, but they could also be a lot, lot worse. HH tims, lurkers, malcontents and even you snooping dobbers.
AULDHEID @ 3:26 PM,
Good article…
I posted a little while ago about Scottish Football being in a great position to take advantage of the OTT (internet streaming) due to the requirement for the Service Providers to do market and technology experimentation.
And of course our paltry linear (Broadcaster) deal.
What I didn’t mention at the time but something I was well aware of, was the point Richard Scudamore and a.n.other mentions…
“We envisage anybody, really, being able to come along and bid for those rights. We would need some distribution criteria and to make sure it was readily available across platforms and everything else, but as long as it was widely available and distributed properly, we wouldn’t rule those out.”
Celtic despite being the most efficient and professional when it comes to business acumen in Scottish Football, seem to be okay with the current Broadcast deal.
I believe the reason for this is contained within RD’s statement. It’s the platform, we of course loose out on Broadcaster money but we have the same platform as the big English and Welsh Clubs have.
I.e a dozen of us can get together in a pub in a market town in England and “enjoy?’ Yesterday’s game.
Same as Man U or Chelsea. That platform allows us exposure to Great British & Ireland and is great for fans and sponsors alike.
It is why we manage decent kit and sponsorship deals. Of course we can continue to develop Celtic TV as a OTT offering.
Interesting few years ahead and it should only improve things for us…
Hail Hail
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Thats close enough for me big man! :D
Éirinn go Brách
HH
WEE BGFC
WeeBigGeorge
Hope you & yir Da get every away ticket you need in 2018
Hail Hail
Shocking pen given to WBA just there. Minutes later referee is on touchline saying ‘I’m sorry’ to Wenger. Farcical.
Brendan has brought in a lot more than 2 players.
Initially he brought in Kolo, De Vries & Gamboa.
Then Ntcham, Kouassi, Benyu & Hayes plus Eduoard on loan.
I have no doubt I could be missing out on one or two more.
hi bhoys ive recorded yesterdays game as i had friends visiting. but having been on and off the blog last 24 hours im loathe to watch it .anyway healhy and happy new year when it comes to all cqners.
Billy Bhoy on 31st December 2017 5:19 pm
That is a lot nearer to the game I watched.
I thought some after the game comments were too wrapped up in a veil of disappointment to be taken seriously.
Oddly had our performance in each half been reversed I wonder if the view would have been ” Rangers were lucky.”
Stairheedrammy 6.12pm
Group results poor but as a pot 4 team we achieved 3rd ? Over achievement ?
PSG & Bayern two of the favourites for the CL so in my assessment even thought I hate Celtic getting beat would not getting to the CL and not get pumped be better ???
Bring on the Zenits :-)
All the best for 2018 to Celtic supporters all over the wold and especially to all CQNers
Stay warm and stay safe Bhoys and ghirls
From a sunny warm Los Angeles
HH
THETIMREAPER
Do you think Brother Madden would have awarded that one to the huns yesterday?
Me tae.
Offski to an early New Year’s party. A second one to go to later on.
Enjoyed the chat check in tomorrow.
God Bless All
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 5:44 PM
########
You are so wrong with that claim. So, so wrong.
Weebawbabbity
############
I hope you read this.
I was talking to a guy that knows you last week, he has been the Dempsey’s mate for decades.
His initials are, P.D. nicknamed Ped, he has his own joinery business , he’s also my brother in law.
I read that you’ll be offski for three weeks as well, stay safe and enjoy.
This mistaken identity thing wi GFTB, is because you verified one of my posts on here.
I’m sure that, since then, you must have deciphered that that was a bad move, which would, in itself, explain to you, what the lay of the land is on these pages.
Since GFTB appeared on here, at first, I thought that he came across as an OK guy, with me I mean.
Then, it changed, it seemed like he must have been fed the CQN clique soup, almost over night he changed.
I’ve not changed. I’m still suspicious of those who custodially govern Celtic FC, namely, the PLC board, who flung Neil Lennon under a bus, because he proved that his team was being cheated by the refs, forcing the refs to go on strike. That, is just one of the millions of reasons why, I don’t trust those folk who run our club.
When I mention this, which is normally all the time, cause I dont want to live a lie to cover up for, conflicted £billionaires, GFTB assumes the role, or he seems to imho, to be the self appointed guardian of Celtic FC.
What GFTB doesn’t seem to get is, that not everybody see’s Celtic through GFTB’s eyes.
That’s his problem and, only GFTB can solve this.
As for you, WEEBAWBABBITY, you will be viewed on here, with dubious eyes, until you appear at one of yon hoot things that they seem to use as a confirmation process on here. Once you attend a hoot, you’ll be on the good books on here ;
HH and Happy New Year when it comes, E, and wish the same to wee Maureen as well.
Bye.
I agreed we need more establiahed players of a higher quality and BR’s does too if his most recent purchase is anything to go by. The experienced german centre back is what everyone is asking for but then moan about his age etc… forgetting he is an establiahed player with many years of playing in a far better league.
Maybe just maybe BR has lots of establiahed players that he would like to bring in but they are not interested and rather than bringing in other players’ for the sake of it he holds fire until he can get his own men. It takes longer to build a team this way but saves time, money and unrest in the dressing room.
Celtic need to look at the kids from within our academy or from the dundee, hibs and st mirran etc… of this world. Celtic should also look to recruite the dembele, ajer and nchams’ of this world in the hope they are able to develop.
To my mind BR is doing just fine with titles and european football underlining celtic’s progress to date. i hope the board back him to get the best players we can and i hope he is able to get those players to buy into celtic.
I dont want him to spend money on players that dont fit into what he is trying to do because supporters are moaning etc…
HH
KEVJUNGLE
One of the downsides to attending a HOOT is that you may meet people you normally scroll by.
Turns out they are lovely people and that makes it difficult to subsequently scroll by.
Mibbe you should go to one.
Best wishes for New Year to you and yours!
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 6:16 PM
WeeBigGeorge
Hope you & yir Da get every away ticket you need in 2018
Hail Hail
——–
Cheers !!!!
Wee BGFC