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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Went to McChuills after the game yesterday,
brilliant atmosphere and music,
this is the first tune i heard
https://youtu.be/1F3Uhrj9YVI
BMCWP
I canny stand coldplay don’t listen to any of their stuff except their Christmas song cos my neice insisted I put it on my Christmas playlist on my youtube channel.
KEEP THE FAITH
Hope to see you in the New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one.(as somebody once said).
Tonyrome :-)
Obviously Snow Patrol but they sound the same as Coldplay :-)
What chance have I got about Cektuc stuff if I don’t even know my own wedding singers :-)
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
I haven’t a clue what my wedding song was but i’ve managed to get away wi it for 37 years.
She will kill me when she finds out unless of course she disnae know either.
PARK ROAD 67
When you read this.
You must not repeat this to anyone E included.
KEEP THE FAITH
Bruce Springsteen – Waitin’ on a Sunny Day –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiCxqhu9cio
For the Rutherglen pair of bhoys VP & Gordon
LEFTCLICKTIC on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 9:36 PM
set the alarm :-))
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 9:37 PM
I will……….there are times we reminisce and thats good to do , new memories must be made too
make 2018 full of new wonderful memories
HH
Leftclicktic
Cheers for the snow patrol link :-)
Tell my cousin AC I was asking after him, small world CSC
TONYROME
Don’t worry about it mhate i’m in the same boat as you !!!! Don’t know if i’m gonnae see the Bells both of us got the lurgy !
Dena29
Hope you have a great 2018 you and WeeBigGeorge are my favourite Celtic fans following the Hoops :-)
Still remember you were off “shopping” in the USA when cqn10 was on the go :-)
Wedding song? Sorry, ain’t got a clue and to be fair the good lady wouldn’t remember either. It was a long day….
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
######
Cheers Bobby, all the best to you and yours.
Although, I have to say, there’ll not be many steps forward from me, I’ve been in crutches for over a year now :)
Maybe things will get better, we’ll see.
If Jeremy gets his hauns on the keys of no10, maybe then.
I bet yeez awe wish it was my fingers that were in crutches :)
All the best fella, HH
……oot.
GFTB
I seen you posting wks ago about the kanes ,I’m married to a brady who are connected to them.
evensmallerworldCSC
PARK ROAD 67
Firstly get well soon.
I don’t know if it’s worth sitting up for the bells as A starts back for her shifts in the morning.
So if we do it will be 1 drink then bed.
See you both early in the new year I hope.
Hugs to you and E from us both and the princess.
KEEP THE FAITH
“I bet yeez awe wish it was my fingers that were in crutches” :)
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))
LOVE kev
JMCCORMICK
It was a long day you say……. Not as long as the ones after it. LOL
KEEP THE FAITH
To all you bhoys and ghirls
life is like a book many different chapters
some sad
some bad
some happy and clappy
may 2018 be the happiest possible
but whatever it brings
no-one ever walks alone
be kind to one another
Happy New Year
HH
TET: Breithlá sona (déanach) duit.
TTT: Condolences to you.
Ar dheis lámh Dhé go raibh anam Shéamais.
Martin42: best wishes on a continued recovery.
The last day of a fantastic year for us , the least enjoyable bits being 5 of our 6 champions league games. i believe the results in these 5 games have had a negative psycholigical effect on our players which has not helped us over the last 3 months , in particular.
Tom Rogic’s winning goal in the cup final being the pinacle of our fotballing year, the end of my best week of 50 years supporting our team.
The article on Celtic Underground explaing the pressures, physical and mental, on our current squad in relation to what our players in the 80’s had to deal with, is a great read. Despite advances in sports science , players are human.
I echo what others have said in ths and the previous thread about Calum McGregor in the number 10 role. Calum can not play that position, this not a persoal dig at him, he is better facing the opposition goal than paying with his back to it.
I watched sportscene earlier , Lafferty’s red card tackle on Shinnie was a shocker . A few other shockers on show. Hamilton players involved in another stramash , needless to say DImrie involved. He had booted the ball into the crowd during the game . Motherwell player Hartley had a go at DImrie after the game .
Have a great 2018 to all and my thoughts to those who have lost someone close in 2017.
MoonbeamsWD
thanks for your good wishes however it could be another 4/6 months of crutches.
ParkheadcumSalford.,
thank you too for your good wishes. one day in 2018 I will be able to throw away the crutches but it will not be the spring, hopefully the early summer
Martin42
LEFTCLICKTIC on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 10:29 PM
“””””””””””
Back at ya, HH, all the best.
#########
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
“”””””””
Truce tae the morra, all the best fella
to you and her family, HH
……oot
MARTIN42
Being on crutches is better than, other things.
All the best to you and yours, HH
Kev J
No truce needed in the slightest
Am a happy clapper end of…
Some of your posts read as if you don’t want Celtic to win
Stuff the bored …. it’s our Celtic
Keep questioning everything but enjoy these really good times :-)
PETEC
Howoooooolllll :)
All the best to you and yours Pete.
YNWA
…..oot.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Ah said truce, but, ach….never mind.
HH
……oot.
BMCUP@8-04
Reaching for his waistband is an easy get out for a police force that has been emboldened by recent history and a braggard and bully in the oval office.
911 was a catalyst for modern police behaviour.
The heroic status attached to anyone in uniform afterwards created an elevated status and a belief that they were the law and therefore could decide the rules of engagement.
I have lived here in the US for the last 28 years and the difference in law enforce isince 911 is staggering.
I am a pasty white guy who has been subject to their arrogance, bullying and threats for filming them on the streets of NY though it is perfectly legal.
God knows how fearful it is for blacks and latino’s in the most simple encounter.
Leftclicktic 10.27pm
The Kane’s were outlaws it was the Brady’s who were my mums cousins !
The Craig’s who Lennybhoy, you & Coatbridge Paper Bhoy know are my dads side
Smaller world :-)
DENA29
Mwaaaaah :)
Keep it lit great Celt
all the best to all, HH.
…….oot.
TONYROME
Cheers mhate will be in touch tomorrow , say hi to the ghirls HH !
KevJ
Griff or Moussa ?
Happy New Year to all, wishing everyone here a healthy and peaceful 2018.
HH
Lafferty
Dallas 10.34pm
Hope you R & the kids have a magic 2018…..
At 0-0 yesterday I was hoping Dallas junior was at the game as he has a great record :-)
LuckyCharmCSC
ONEMALLOY
U2 HH
……….
Onemalloy 10.46pm
Still gutted I missed the Hoot but won’t miss the next day oot
H hope you and all yours have a magic 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3d03WjcpkQ
Happy New Year to all on CQN
HH
So, end of a fantastic year,not the time for analysis paralysis.
I am delighted to have been around for a truly memorable period in our History,and would like to wish all fellow supporters,and all CQN readers and contributors,a Healthy and Happy 2018.
HH