Empires rise and fall but it is usually not until well after the event that the signs of decline or rise are appreciated. In April 1970 Celtic players took a lap of honour after winning both legs of the European Cup semi-final against English champions, Leeds United, before a record European crowd. They were in their second European Cup final in four and hot favourites to take the trophy again. If ever Celtic looked imperious, this was the moment.
Few watching that lap of honour could have imagined 33 years would pass before Celtic next beat a side from one of Europe’s biggest five leagues. Decline came slowly, a European Cup final loss in extra time, two more semi-final appearances and four more league titles, then decades as an irrelevance in Europe.
Today Celtic are nothing like that force in Europe, but 2018 saw the club secure the domestic treble for the second successive season, the first time this has been achieved in Scottish football. They also retained the League Cup this month and are hot favourites for both league and Scottish Cup. No team has ever been this imperious in Scottish football, not even the Lisbon Lions.
Celtic have lost four league games this season, four more than they lost in the whole of Brendan Rodgers’ first season. They failed to reach the Champions League group stage, losing to what proved to be a poor AEK Athens. This year has seen significant players lost: Dembele, Armstrong and Roberts. Although the latter two were mostly squad players when by the time they left, they still made important contributions.
The club broke its transfer fee record for the first time in 17 years to secure the permanent signing of Odsonne Edouard, but the deadline day shenanigans of Dembele and absences of Leigh Griffiths placed a heavy burden on the 20-year-old. Filip Benkovic was secured on loan from Leicester City but further attempts to reinforce central defence and the right back position have been ineffective, while the predicted signing of John McGinn from Hibs proved to be nothing more than a PR disaster.
Form during the early part of the season was well below standards of the previous two years. It was not until two first half injuries in the League Cup semi-final at Murrayfield to Ebouie Kouassi and Olivier Ntcham allowed Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie to take up central midfield roles, that Celtic started to play with fluency.
Three wins were secured in a very difficult Europa League group, meaning we travel to Valencia in February with a fighting chance of progressing, but you could sense the air escaping from Celtic during December, as eight points were dropped on top of a home defeat to Salzburg.
The question is, was Saturday’s arresting defeat at Ibrox a sign of Decline of Empire, or another sign of retrenchment? To answer that we need to look at the fundamentals.
Celtic are financially stronger than anyone else in Scottish football. We spend significantly more, not just on transfers and wages, but on scouting, sports science, analysis and any other metric you care to mention. We may only be top of the table on goal difference, with a game in hand, but the first leg of the treble is complete and we are the only Scottish team still in Europe.
This season, the rest of the league are getting closer, but if points earned is their measurement, they are not getting any better. Celtic’s lead is small, not because we face better opposition, or because we have fewer resources, but because some in the squad have aged and declined, while attempts to strengthen have not been good enough.
If you are searching for signs of Decline of Empire, keep looking. This is Celtic at the bottom of the curve – with back-to-back trebles, the League Cup secured and resources available to kick on. We cannot win every game, or play well every month. We can’t even win every trophy, but the fundamentals of Scottish football have not changed. Use this week to get in touch with how it feels to be second best in a domestic game. It could be a while before it happens again.
Have a great New Year.
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Dean Ford in 1967
https://youtu.be/UCn61DuBrgo
Jimmy Hendrix liked it — he never made his views on the soon come Ob-La DI -Ob -La -Da public .
Belated New Years greetings from a 15 and sunny at 12,15 -way down south
not the celts,
but number 25 on the subutto list.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V0jdApnkyWc/Vaqr4GSRqdI/AAAAAAAAS8o/hNydyG0zDt0/s855-Ic42/shamrock-rovers-1967.jpg
There is a picure in etims twitter of Bayo arriving at Glasgow Airport this morning
just cos it was a topic,
at the boro,
murdoch, jackie and the other yin
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SrbYx0Hp5f8/VbE7tGHJDfI/AAAAAAAATCU/Ms-4y1Zk4ok/s500-Ic42/www.pinterest.com.jpg
Ignore my last post please , its a lot of mince
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 2ND JANUARY 2019 11:35 AM
There is a picure in etims twitter of Bayo arriving at Glasgow Airport this morning
i think he was just visiting the celtic shop for the sales,
https://twitter.com/Rikos67_/status/1080223081447243776/photo/1
Already ours apparently according to this video collection?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkA-CBgihKs
I think I saw Marmalade the once –
The Windsor Jazz Festival in 67 -on a bill with the likes of The Small Faces / John Mayall / Cream / Chicken Shack / Fleetwood Mac etc .
For British Blues boom fans –
https://youtu.be/3Qjlq0p1-1Y
Off oot – to the sales !!!
ha, its amido balde
Am I the only one concerned that we may be about to repeat our previous grave errors of recruitment?
Bayo has the same high risk ratio as Bangura, and Amido Balde.
Weah the same as Musonda.
We still want to buy players that may develope into good players , and if this higher risk works.
Then there is a higher return in future sales.
This transfer window ,the Huns will target players, who are less of a risk.
Players that are experienced and will make an immediate impact, like Steve Davis.
The Huns main focus is to win the league.
Ours still appears to be to make money on future player sales .
My concerns grow by the day.
TT
Saint Stivs
Great minds
T T
St stivs , I just woke up earlier and saw that tweet on etims without checking the replies on it.
The board give the impression that money from future sales of players , matters most when the club can increase income by what happens on the pitch over the course of the season when we have a winning team on it.
Tiny Tim, your current concerns along with others you have shown previously about signing players , are correct.
Hendry going out on loan, after a year with us,and cost £1.5 mil……
tb,
and the last true celtic hoops,
no numbers, no sponsors,
how good does it look
http://i60.tinypic.com/25tax44.jpg
The big question is why were some of these players brought in at some expense and never given a chance ? The finger must be pointed at whoever brought them to the club not at the players themselves: Compher, Arzani, Allan, Benyu, Mulumbu, Musonda , Hayes, De Vries, Izaguirre (part 2), Morgan etc.etc. Even Roberts spent more time on bench than playing, terrible terrible.
Incredibly poor recruitment and Rodgers is accountable, no wonder Lawwell is loathe to give him more millions to spend with that track record
Calvin Miller returns from loan
TinyTim – I have the same concerns – I know it may be a bit parochial, but right now I think we need tried and proven players – English Championship for instance.
I’m hoping experienced, worldly-wise 26 year olds rather than raw 18 year olds. Liked Eric Sviatchenko when we signed him – an established club captain who has a reasonable record of not being injured all the time.
Those are the boys we need to add a bit of relaibility and consistency to team selection.
And bring back Wee Paddy :-))
HH
BGFC
I’m reading that West Ham may be looking to loan one James McCarthy from Everton.
I think he would be an excellent acquisition for us.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND JANUARY 2019 12:12 PM
Calvin Miller returns from loan
Rumour a Turkish team want Izzy…..
BREENY on 2ND JANUARY 2019 12:08 PM
The list you mention ( and there is more ) is indeed testimony to an expensive failed transfer policy. Put simply we are not getting a return from our wage bill that dwarfs many top European sides.
No more prospects please. That is what our well financed academy is for , which incidently is starting to deliver a substantial return.
In summary, money has been made available, much of it however has not been spent wisely.
HH to all and to a memorable 2019.
TINYTIM on 2ND JANUARY 2019 11:45 AM, we will be able to judge once we actually see the boys play. Every purchase is a Gamble .
We signed dembele for 400k, roberts on loan and they turned out ok, we have young benkovic on loan and he is our best centreback. KT is doing no to bad and none of us knew about him 3 years ago. 21 years old and plays like a seasoned pro.
We signed ddv, compper and izzy and they did not turned out great. Its risky signing 30 plus year olds players, but it depends on the individual!
Dont think celtic should deviate to far from signing up younger players. Bottom line, scout the players and make sure he is good enough regardless of age.
However, just about Every big club in the smaller leagues are doing what celtic are doing which maybe tells its own story
HH
TIMOTHY CASTAGNE ?.
Italian click bait sites have him being of interest to Lazio – but – player is rumored to prefer Germany and Celtic are interested and they’ll pay Atalanta more and give the player bigger wages.
Seen him a lot on the tele -looks like a good player !
TINYTIM
Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard?
Poor guy hasn’t even signed and he’s Amido Amido f@@@@@@ Balde?
Hi all.
Agree with earlier posters about Paddy Roberts.
He is a young, known proposition whose price has dropped in last 18 months.
If Man City are distracted by their incoming signings, £4-5m would be excellent business.
Re: whatshisname from whatchamacallthem ….
I was blissfully unaware of his existence a week ago (same as everyone else).
Celtic never spill names to the media, so this has come from the selling team.
No facts, but likely that they’ve used our offer to start a bidding war.
If so, we should walk away.
Hail hail
simplynput projects need to be balanced with seasoned professionals who can hold their own with Ajax, Benfica etc. We lack leadership on the field with only Brown qualifying, we need more. We need players who can compete away to Motherwell , Hamilton, Livingston etc. Our nice little players are great for home games but this season proves they don’t have what it takes to play at these difficult grounds.
Not sure if online DR article was doctored, Bayo’s coach from a couple of years ago said,he is still raw,first touch needs a lot of work……we need experienced guys who are first team ready to freshen the team up now.
Bada Bing
Totally agree, otherwise Sevco can overtake us , at least 3 seasons campaigners who have leadership qualities as we have none except Brown
Bayo ?
For what it’s worth -Italian fly a kite Calciomercato sites have Parma signing him for 250 k euros and failing that – Rapid Vienna or Celtic.
Breeny- and this team needs Broonie IMO,written off by many a few weeks ago, he can’t go on forever, but i hope he can get his sharpness back after the break. HH
the glasgow celtic athletics.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WkYbfXx7l3A/VfXI74XACvI/AAAAAAAAThY/jh3fGF11j_8/s1037-Ic42/saj-140288.jpg
Tinytim and Big George’s- absolutely correct, that we need ready made hardened professionals NOW.
Not projects.
Everyone and thier Granny can see that, I don’t believe for one minute Brendan is banking on untried 18 -20 year olds coming straight into first team… If he is then God help us..
These guys are ok getting fed into the team (Game management) not first team regulars.
HH
D. :)
Bada Bing
Yes you are right, Brown still has so much to offer but people writing him off and I think it is because of a drop in fitness level and no support around him, get his fitness back and all ok there.
MONEY MONEY MONEY .
Just seen 20 yr old Christian Pulisic on the tele – bubbling with enthusiasm re his 64 million euros transfer to Chelsea and the wondrous EPL . Having signed for Chelsea he is returning to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season.
Bus attacked by nasty prods . Players attacked by nasty moodelos. Nasty prod officials against us every other week.
Nasty money grabbing lawwell saying nothing.
The board should invest in a pair of baws and start CALLING IT OUT. Sh*tebags the lot of them.
On one hand Paul states we spend more cash on plyrs, wages, science etc etc than any other club. On the other hand he states we can’t win every game ?!? Why not ?
We are going backwards at an alarming rate and that’s a fact. Brendan yer times up in order to keep Poundland Peters job safe.
I have a real concern that these 2 young strikers are inexperienced and not what we need right now to replace Dembelle. We desperately need a physical presence in that position and none of these 2 guys , Griffiths or Eddy give us that. We need to challenge for high balls and score from corners, there is so much potential but the coach has to get it right, I am worried.
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND JANUARY 2019 12:36
We need a forward that plays through the middle, someone to hold the ball up, to head the ball on and to put the ball in the net.
We need a new powerful running rightback who has pace, can tackle and can cross a ball just like KT.
We need a gk who can comfortable control and pass a ball to and beyond the centreback fullbacks when required.
If a bid for boyata comes in we should be looking to sell and purchase someone that defends, wins headers is hard but fair.
I would keep brown and lustig till end of season but would let any of the other players that are going out of control at end of this season to move on If they can find a club. Would not be unhappy to see guys like henry, compper, hayes, bitton etc… moved on If a deals can be agreed.
BREENY BADA BING
Brown in a properly implemented system would be an asset.
He is taking a lot of heat for the games against Hibs and Sevco when most Celtic fans freely admit was largely down to coaching failures.
He plays in the role given and never shirks or hides.
Never mind bringing paddy back. Buy a left winger and get shot of Sinclair ASAP. Man down, ghost player, disgrace to take a shirt and just play a spectator role.
No more ..call it out … sinky piss off. Lustig piss off. At eddys age I was playing football for 8 hrs a day till darkness fell so get a grip eddy and pull up yer socks. Boyata go just go, he remembered on sat to play his get away ticket so boot him oot the door. And Brendan, don’t ever play calmac in LB slot ever again, if you do then you confirm you have lost it.
Sick of all this sh@te. Get a man in that can control the team not mollycoddle under performers in the hope they don’t sulk and improve …. it isn’t working… proof is sinky.
Rant over. Now all the soft heads may start calling me a troll or a hun. Then afterwards stick yer head right back in yer bucket of sand.