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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KEVJ
You and I will rarely agree,but that’s not a problem. I’m quite happy to argue my point,tell you what is wrong with yours,and I’m sure you’re the same.
But…
Misfortune is something we can all do without,so I never wish it on others. My Mum taught me that,-it’ll rebound. Had I known about your illness when I was in Fatima,you’d have been uppermost in my thoughts.
If I still have any credit upstairs for that,it’s heading in your direction.
HH
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I know we don’t always agree on everything, but you are a pretty great bunch.
In what was an otherwise tough year, one of the real highlights for me was meeting so many of you in September. Just really nice people that I am fortunate to know. I hope that next year, I will have the chance to get to meet more of you.
Mike
How awful is this Only an Excuse? Haven’t watched for a few years. Quickly turning over.
Gerry, thanks and best wishes to the Shields family.
He was at the game yesterday . He finished his first ever night shift at 5am , came home had a beer ( he thought we did not know he had one) then slept to about half nine before going to the game.
Junior was quite disappointed with our performance and result .
Moravcik 67 has some good tweets about our team on Celtic Underground twitter .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNwkCbPQomg
Celtic FC – Kieran Tierney’s Top 10 Moments of 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h7SnghD6wM
Celtic FC – A Season Like No Other
Dallas
Being disappointed at 0-0
Would have been great in the 90s :-)
Gerry, it shows how times have changed, them being ecstatic with a nil nil draw.
As we approach the witchin hour or whatever that is, its that cauld here that the City of Toronto is calling for the armourys tae open tae shelter the homeless and MIT’s polar bear swim the morra has been cancelled.
Having just got back in fae the vigil anyone who ventures oot tae see in the bells is either aff their heid or has a social problem.
18 year ago I was sat in the office with 3 computers in front of me watching tae see if they would turn over at midnight and the traffic signals would stay on, the place was deserted as Y2K fanaticism was kicking in.
Thought I was just going tae get time in lieu until I came back in on the 2nd (isnae a holiday over here) tae find out I had got triple time.
Oh what fun it is to be sober on New Year’s Day.
Hoopy 2018 fellow jungle jims.
Is Simunovic goin to be sold to Burnley for £8m
And Hendry bought from Dundee for £500k?
TT
JMCCORMICK on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 11:13 PM
Gets worse every year
kevj. iknow how much you are a tim i probably stood next to you in the jungle without knowing it .you take care keep the flag flying in the old jungle happy new year mate.hh.
Nice one Moussa ???
Moussa Dembélé @MDembele_10
24m minutes ago
Happy New year to All of you 2018 more to come…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzwccsTH00I&feature=youtu.be
Let The People Sing (With Lyrics) – The Malleys
Tontine … a bit relieved the dip is cancelled, to be honest …
Big Packy… think I have found a breeder I like, so there could be a new puppy by March… kind of excited
At this time of the year I think about my regular companions of 2017 and my wishes for them in 2018.
So, I wish a year of uninterrupted peace and rest to my toolbox, paint brushes and paint rollers .
(And to everyone on CQN)
A MONUMENTAL year for Celtic.
I am so honoured to live in these times.
To all that have lost their nearest , dearest and most loved my sympathies.
Good bye 2017 – forever in our thoughts.
Cqners
Sometimes sad reading on here but sometimes it’s really worth the read, hope 2018 is as good to you all as it can possibly be
God bless & Hail Hail
Happy New Year CQN.
From lovely Stornoway a very Happy ,Healthy and Prosperous New Year to ALL Celtic Men and Women everywhere Hail Hail Hebcelt
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
As the Embra fireworks announce 2018, another Treble Year to my fellow CQNers HH
TIMSINOHIO on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 11:59 PM
Happy New Year CQN.
———————
Your cloacks in Ohio are wonky.:O)
Right,I’ve just sent out a HAPPY NEW YEAR message to everyone on RebelYell.com.
If he didn’t get one,it’s because I don’t like ye. Got it?
Grinches aren’t just for Christmas,you know!!!!
Kidding and joking aside,I wish EVERYONE,here and elsewhere,a year to remember with fondness.
HH.
Hùpaí niù yír
Like JJ
It’s New year
So happy new year to all Celts.
Happy Celts
Sad Celts
Bawbag Celts
and Z’s looking in. 2018 and 7 in a row.
Hail! Hail!
MWD
From fishul site….ok we forgive yeez.
EVERYONE at Celtic Football Club would like to wish all supporters throughout the world a very Happy New Year.
We celebrated a memorable 2017 with the completion of an Invincible treble, while this season, the League Cup has been won again. And Brendan Rodgers’ side set a new British record of 69 domestic games unbeatean.
Now we look foward to the year ahead, aiming to win the league title for the seventh consecutive season and also the Scottish Cup. And we’ve also got Europa League football to look forward to in February.
Have a great Ne’erday and a wonderful 2018.
Hail, Hail.
Happy New Year !
The Blarney Pilgrims – Sean South
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ4O8DerXdw
Bobby , happy new year.
If you want a new Jinky or Danny McGrain t shirt , Boca10 have some new designs on sale.
The Jinky one is grey with JJ on the right side of the chest then the symbol used by the Jimmy Johnstone soccer academy on the left side of te chest.
The new Danny one is a light green colour with a print of white Adidas trainees with McGrain 02 on them . I saw them in Silverburn yesterday.
FAN-A-TIC
Honestly,I do understand that,and I’m no defender of power because the law gives you a gun.
But…
Look closely at the details of what the police were told. Hostages,and a house soaked in kerosene. That’s a difficult judgement call,at best.
Anyway,no doubt there will be no further action,as is usually the case. And as you say,being a man of colour points you disproportianately to a jail term or a bullet.
I’m pretty sure though,that is because the black population of New York demanded tougher sanctions on those who were preying on their neighbourhoods. Round about mid 80s.
If I’m wrong,hands up. If I’m right,think about it.
Meantime,have yourself a merry HUGE New Year.
HH
Hoopy new year ghuys n gals HH
Well me and the weemhan made it :))))))))))
to each and everyone of you may 2018 bring you all your needs.
Lang may yer lum reek CSC.
I miss folk like Kitalba,awe naw and Morrissey along with so many others ,good night all thank you for being here.
DALLASDALLAS
I wore my Che Guevara/1967 t-shirt the other day,grateful thanks to my kid sis. XXX
My favourite Danny one is the Fidel McGrain one. It’s a stoatir.
I got Danny’s autograph at a POTY do a few years back,asked him to sign my iPhone case. I’m not gonna lose that,I’ll probably lose a scrap of paper.
Not daft,me.
Aye amur.
The light from the phone faded it in no time. Fecking raging,I was.
You and yours,fine Celt wi a memory of the same days as me and JIMBO67,I hope and wish for your best year ever.
HH
It is now 2018
Lurking Huns
Beat it mate, your teams deid :-)
Leigh Griffiths 2017
Happy New Year. I know we don’t always agree on everything, but in the end we all want the same for our team.
HH
To Paul 67, all his co-workers and everyone of you CQNers throughout the world a Happy New Year. I pray that those who have suffered loss of loved ones or who are in poor health will find 2018 to be a year of peace and good health for all.
Looking forward to continued success from the bhoys in green and I wish Brendan, all the staff and players at Celtic a great 2018 in which they will achieve even greater heights.
Finally I will remember all of you believers and non believers at Mass this morning. Have a great day with family and friends. H.H.
Leftclicktic
Miss GFTB is still up, we have just phoned all the family
Wish you all the best for 2018
Love your “thank you for being here sign off”
Hail Hail
MIKE IN TORONTO. keep us posted happy new year.