My friends in Celtic, we finish the year top of the league having just schooled our nearest rivals for the second time in two games. A dip in form ended just in time to see the club collect nine points from three games, with an important trip to St Mirren to complete before the winter break. All is right for three-in-a-row.
So why am I so worried? It’s about the strategic direction the club takes going forward. I don’t want to just win the league, or even just qualify for the Champions League. I am 56 years old, I want to see Celtic dive deep into that tournament. I want to see us achieve what Neil Lennon and Gordon Strachan did in Europe, even if the achievements of Jock Stein’s era are nothing more than a fantasy.
If we get everything right, I believe a successful football club can come from our league and achieve what the best in Holland or Portugal have done. To get there, we need to double down on what we are good at, improve where we can and avoid the obvious pitfalls.
Since 2021 we have concentrated development resources into players (largely) under 24 years old. Augmented by the significant contribution of a then-unknown (i.e. risky) Kyogo, this has delivered an enormous haul of trophies. Celtic finished a distant second in 2021 but have dropped only two domestic trophies since, a period in which their main rivals reached significant milestones in European competition.
Finding and developing players of the calibre of Carter-Vickers, Jota, Hatate, Maeda, O’Riley and Abada is so obviously where Celtic are as a club, it defies explanation (but here we are). The aforementioned benefited from arriving at the club during a period of rebuilt. In the squad, goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack were all overhauled. The new arrivals got gametime and soon flourished.
This summer, our man outlays went on Nawrocki €5m, Palma, €4.75m, Lagerbielke €3.4m, Holm €3m, with an option to buy Bernardo for €6m. Palma was first to get a sustained opportunity and has thrived, scoring in the Champions League and recording assists in important games.
After a run of only three starts, Paulo Bernardo was the toast of Celtic Park. He contributes every inch as much as Matt O’Riley and at €6m is an absolute steal – IF we contribute to develop him correctly, and not allow him to wither on the vine.
Odin Holm (20) has the potential to be every bit as good as Paulo and Matt. He has had a terrible time with illness since arriving in Glasgow, but he will fully recuperate and by his peak years will be performing in a top European league.
For reasons I have not been able to fathom, Gustaf Lagerbielke’s face doesn’t seem to fit. The player has scarcely taken to the field, and when he did, he scored a Champions League winner, but minds have been made up.
On the other hand, great things are expected of Maik Nawrocki. He has endured persistent injuries since August, and was thrown into the deep end yesterday, but the consensus at Lennoxtown is that he will also play his peak years in a top European league.
If Celtic have been exceptional at anything in recent years, it is finding and developing great prospects. We need to do more of this, we need to look for ways to improve it, and we need to lead the club with this exceptional strategy. Convince the footballing world, if you have talent, Celtic will find it and grow it into something great.
Luck plays a part in football. Injuries, illness and opportunity can all determine whether or not a player is successful. But in this respect anyway, luck eventually evens itself out. Can we all agree, let’s have more of Cater-Vickers, Nawrocki, Jota, Palma, Abada, Holm and Hatate.
So with the strategic plan clearly so successful why am I worried? We lose two league games, get our backsides handed to us in Madrid, and we want a quick and lazy fix (which will not work).
This “we need more experienced players” harks back to past successes, like the phenomenal Scott Sinclair. But Scott came 8 years ago and the world has changed since then. “More experience players” means fewer like Nawrocki and more like Nat Phillips. Nat is 26, has experience in the EPL and Champions League with Liverpool and is exactly the player we can expect to sign when we go for “more experience”.
Nat is not the only example. Let me disturb your afternoon with memories of Duffy, Laxalt, Bauer, Marvelous Marvin Compper, Gamboa, Toure and (still on the payroll) James McCarthy! Look across the city. They have gone full pelt with this strategy; Lammers, Dessers, Danilo, Dowell, the wee boy with the tints in his hair, Davies and Lundstrum.
It’s not cheap either. Despite being universally acknowledged as being rubbish, they have a higher payroll than Celtic; Dessers is on £30k per week and that big lump Lundstrum banks £40k a week to traipse around in Callum McGregor’s shadow.
It is a strategy, but it’s a rubbish one. It leads to a development dead end, not just with respect of the players, but for the club as a whole. The chances of bringing a Scott Sinclair-type talent to Scottish football are remote, this is what “more experienced” looks like and it isn’t pretty.
This is where we are: Nawrocki or Phillips, Bernardo or Lammers. There is only one way forward for Celtic, do more of what we are good at, do it ruthlessly, without exception. Even Brendan should have personal developmental goals. This is where Alex Ferguson was so exceptional and others (Martin, even Jock), didn’t adapt. Managers need to be confident enough to disarm and learn.
It’s also worth correcting a commonly held belief that Celtic have a particularly young team. If our preferred starting 11 includes Abada and Hatate instead of Palma and Bernardo in yesterday’s line-up, the average age is 26.6 years. We are a team with a decent range of youth and experience.
Jota, Carter-Vickers et al gave us a reputation as a great place to for a young prospect to come to. If we screw up with the (also very good) most recent crop of recruits, we will not get next season’s crop, they will go elsewhere.
The next two transfer windows are pivotal to the direction of the club. The manner in which we won the game yesterday, with Bernardo and Nawrocki writing the script, adds valuable perspective on where we are and where we should be moving. Double down, be the best and what we are very good at, no reverse gear, no Phillips, Duffys, Comppers in a vain effort to find Sinclair.
Our condolences to the family of Len Murray, Celtic fan, lawyer and twice guest speaker at the CQN Golf Day. Len was a warm man of great intellect and a devastatingly entertaining manner.
Many thanks to those who helped me on CQN this year, Alex Gordon in particular and the two Mods (one on temp vacation) – honestly the worst role in football!
Thanks also for everyone who drops in to give their thoughts or only for a read. I know so many people I respect who read this stuff. Not everyone ‘gets’ this club. You can see the intelletual sneering in some who have left grubby matters like thier football team behind; they have no idea what they have lost. It is a tonic to know my Celtic addition is shared by people I like. This is who we are, it is our link to the generations past and forward, and for some of us, that really matters.
Take care and have a great 2024!
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Their rage is caused by the fact that with every passing derby win, with every title won, they’re supremacist mindset is challenged and laid bare for being a fraud. 55 league titles, most successful club in the world pish, it’s collapsing around them and so now we’ve reached the stage that officials are getting targeted for making factually correct decisions. The BBC have spoken endlessly about a ‘penalty debate’ but no such debate exists. You can’t debate a demonstrable off side.
Their gaffer losing his head and throwing mud at the walls with incoherent gibberish at full time is a very promising development.
Onwards to St Mirren. Some of our lads looked out on their feet, will be interesting to see if things are refreshed for what will be a more challenging game than the Huns imo.
When Lawwell was overcome by grief at the news of Walter Smith’s death in October 2022 he was on the phone to his pal at the Daily Record to record his sadness at the news.
Celtic last won a European knock-out tie in March 2004, six months after Lawwell was appointed as CEO on a salary of £166,000 pa. In the last decade they have lost to Maribor, Malmo, AEK Athens, Cluj, Ferencvaros and Midtjylland in Champions League qualifiers with each defeat costing around £20m in turnover
After losing to AEK Athens in August 2018 Lawwell finished the year with a salary and bonus of £3,549,026 on a turnover of £83.4m, down from the previous year turnover of £101.6m.
——–
Enough for Mr Lawell to be sacked?
D. :)
Happy new year my fellow cqners
Love the fact that they are still raging. Big lurch the manager has finally shown the true qualities to be Thems coach. I don’t remember this much in the press when Goldsin handballed twice in the 2-2 game, funny that!!!!
Was out to dinner with some good friends last night and we all did a what is our word for the new year. I said feckem. Now when you are in group of teachers who try and tell you that this word doesn’t exist and can you use it in a sentence, my wife, our boss, just rolled her eyes as if to say here it comes…”happy new year to everyone but feckem barstewards in blue”
Hail Hail
Sean
Sevvies gutted as Dessers misses out the African Cup of Nations Nigeria squad.
Login test
what the Fk is AJ at when I saw him tapping the ball out with his hand did he not realise there was about 20 cameras on him particularly as the Rangers player was not in a scoring position.
It’s unbelievable that the public were never informed of the offside decision for such a long period after the incident in such a high profile match with a massive TV audience. Not good.
Before the game against sevco we needed to strengthen in January and after the game that remains true. Our team is crying out our a powerful, pacey leftback and right winger. A powerful running box to box midfielder and not go amiss and I would also take mckenna if there is any truth in the rumour.
A new gk needs to be lined up for the summer.
HH
Suoerbru Round 22 reminder
We have 6 fixtures tomorrow and the deadline is 3 pm, though Celtic kick off at 5 pm
It’s a good week to have a go at the 14.5 pt Weekly best total as there are 8 matches in this gameweek with 2 further Catch-up fixtures on hte 24th January to be added,
We have 14 votes cast on the charity donation in the banter section of QNQS and the deadline for this vote closing is 6pm on January 5th. Please vote if you haven’t already done so.
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 1ST JANUARY 2024 3:30 PM
Regarding the board…personally I don’t think they should get involved at all..Look how silly the Rangers board appear with their regular statements..
*absolutely we have NEVER aired our durty knickers in public like they do, disnae mean we aren’t chasing the scottish freemason association at every turn
Regarding moving Calmac to a forward position, I’ve seen it before and it does not work. Calm is at his best in his current position rather than with his back to the opposition goal. I don’t think there is anything good available in the January window. I would like to see a striker with height and a physical presence to give some variation to our attacking play, someone to meet aerial crosses into the box. Oh is strong but he lacks height and maybe someone to challenge Greg Taylor for the left back position although he did well on Saturday in fairness.
Just to add a wee pep to Taylor, thought he was immense yesterday, so there.
KINGLuBO
Now this is funny – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo4SkpRjmPk
TOBAGO STREET on 1ST JANUARY 2024 4:19 PM
Speaking of Celtic releasing statements, is the 2-1 score line not statement enough?
T
Yup
Truth is simple as you show
HNY HH
That’s the type of statement I like
What a difference a year makes….if someone came in with an offer of £20 mil for big Scales , I would be disappointed to see him go…….
But would we sell him for that !
Oh dear .. looks like the rest of you have been banned !!
Ucht well
I mentioned to some of the lads last night….. I got a visit from my fairy godmother when I was around 7 years old , she said she would grant me one of the following….either
A long memory
Or
A long penis
To this day I can’t remember which one I chose !
Hello, Hello
Thats no funny !
ERATIC on 1ST JANUARY 2024 7:48 PM
Ucht well
I mentioned to some of the lads last night….. I got a visit from my fairy godmother when I was around 7 years old , she said she would grant me one of the following….either
A long memory
Or
A long penis
To this day I can’t remember which one I chose !
===============================================
StewartFrancisCSC
HH
One of the lads asked me if I was embarrassed by my Mrs
I said no , you’re welcome to go out to the car and ask her !
Forgot to tell him he might have to shout as she’s in the boot !
BB
Just you and me mate 🤣👍
ERATIC
I always wondered why a Frisbee gets bigger as it gets closer.
Then it hit me.
Nite y’all
BB
Love the one liners 👍😂
Nite 👍
As part of the build up to the Bells (‘The Bells’) I decided to watch ‘Scotch and Wry’ from the 1980s
Laugh? I almost bought a TV licence!
I’d join in the banter but I am painting the living room.
I always paint my easter eggs because I find wallpapering them is tough.
What’s green and smells like yellow paint? Green paint.
Back to work.
Rumour time- Kvistgaarten, Striker,Araujo (LB) ,a right winger from Solbaaken in……and I still think we will go for McKenna……
Was noted on here after the game but worth another mention. Kyogo’s goal was one of the best constructed goals ever seen in a Glasgow Derby. The highlights tend to just repeat it from the point where Matt got control of the ball, protected it and made the pass for Kyogo, but the forward pass from Nawrocki to Matt was nothing short of exquisite. Brilliant all round move, with what even Phil Clemente described as a ‘World Class’ finish.
Only a cameo role from Maik of course, in part due to injuries, but amid all the talk of ‘development’ yesterday, how do you develop a player without actually giving them game time?
Answers on a postcard please.
CELTIC MAC
Agreed.
Rocky made number 3 in my Jobo top 3.
If, as has been sugested Cletic might be looking to sign a striker, might be worth considering one who has just scored a hat trick for Wrexham earlier today, Stephen Fletcher. No?
Happy New Year 2-1 and all.
I see the BBC have already got their game at home to Kilmarnock as game of the day tomorrow.
Not even a mention of our visit to St Mirren in their preview of the games to come online.
Happy New Year one and all.
I am still buzzing from the game. I know it could have gone differently but i said to my mate that we looked up for the battle as we were lining up in the tunnel.
Great performance and result.
the 2 penalties liverpool got in this game have been ridiculous.
both times the player was on his feet no bother well after the attempted challenge
and then fell down 2 yards later
hate that shite
Quite a few mentions about transparency and accountability on refereeing but that can only happen if the SFA themselves become transparent and accountable.
It is amusing that the biggest beneficiaries of the SFA being neither transparent nor accountable are seeking those very factors but they are not alone.
Supporters of many clubs in Scotland represented by The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) /Scottish Football Alliance seek T & A via Oversight of the SFA from the Scottish Government who have been very active with the SG in the year just gone.
The case for it is set out in two blogs by The SFSA Chairman at
https://scottishfsa.org/andys-sting-in-the-tale-28-12-23-secrecy-deals-wee-favours-and-decline/
with more in his previous blog
https://scottishfsa.org/chairmans-blog-21-12-23/
Supporters of all clubs will be provided with the opportunity to make a case to their own MSPs based on the points in both SFSA blogs and the “how” will be posted on CQN in due course.
In the meantime for those who want to restore the integrity lost in 2012 to our game that they pay a lot of money to support, and for those who have lost that loving feeling since 2012 as a result of that loss, please have a read at the SFSA blogs to start the process of making 2024 a very Happy New Year for our game and all who support it.
Auldheid
Good to see you posting.
Lang may yer lum reek.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas-Gerrit_K%C3%BChn
Linked with this guy
Apologies it is 17 Cup Finals we have to play. 16 to win to be sure of the league.