My friends in Celtic, 10 trophies in a row has been achieved, a level of dominance over Scottish football not known, even under Jock Stein. With the League Cup secured, we have won 17 out of 20 league games, topped our Europa League group for the first time, but all of this will count for little if the league title is not won come May.
By any objective measure, Celtic have improved this season. Had we started this season as we started last, the league title would already be beyond our reach. However, marked improvement is not enough. Newco have made even more significant gains. They have won 16 of their 19 league games, came second in their Europa League group and reached their second major final. A win in their game in hand would put them to of the table by one point.
December started with a comfortable 1-4 win at Ross County, but in the eight games since then we failed to score more than two goals. A late rescue against Hamilton Accies painted over some cracks but the edifice came crashing down as Newco deservedly won 1-2 on Sunday.
We played terribly, lost the tactical battle, missed a penalty and invited crisis into our world. It is likely to be several months before we get a chance to feel better about our league title chances.
Those objective measures of improvement are of no comfort, it is vastly more important how we are measure against domestic rivals than how we performed in previous seasons. The objective State of the Club is impressive. The trophy cabinet is full, most games are a sell-out, and finances are sustainable, despite no Champions League income. We recruited well in the summer and continue to transform young players with potential into valued talent.
We are seeded and favourites to win our Europa League last 32 game, and based on our group stage, there is every reason to hope for a run deep into that competition. Our perspective would look altogether different if only Newco were their usual shambolic selves. But they are not. They are a good team with a good manager who have many of us worried.
Celtic have been getting things strategically right for a long time. The level of dominance we have, together with our financial strength, does not happen by accident. We are a well-run club that has absolutely no intentions of letting this league title slip.
Newco are at their best. They recruited well and have not endured the injury record we have this campaign. They are financially below the water line and will find it difficult to recruit in order to improve their team next month.
Celtic, despite their high points total, have not been at their best. They can and will spend. Several areas of the team will improve. The team that visits Ibrox on 15 March will be ready for the challenge.
Had we won on Sunday, the league title would be considered a given. Much of our chat in the weeks ahead would be about the Scottish Cup and a fourth consecutive treble. Instead, we need to quickly up our game. Situations like this are why we run our business on a sustainable model, with flexibility available when required.
You could make the point that winning everything all of the time is not good for the long-term development of a football team. Without a viable challenge, aspirations are not set as high as they otherwise would be.
It was different when we faced Oldco for the title. Like now, they were forever spending more than they could afford or raise, but their budgets were similar to ours, which meant we had to walk a line between financial viability and being competitive. If having little or no competition is not healthy, the scenario we faced with Oldco was a lot worse.
Celtic are now planning to form a team capable of winning pretty much every domestic game between now and the end of the season. That is the bar required. It will be difficult and there are no guarantees we will win the league, no matter how much money is spent.
The one thing you know about Celtic is that they know how to win trophies; in fact, they have forgotten how to lose them. Enjoy the remainder of this season, it will hopefully deliver a cherished and historic title.
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and ps …….
So Celtic supporters are responsible for and take the credit for our current financial ” bonanza ” .
And logically must also take responsibility for creating the near bankruptcy of twenty plus years ago .
Correct ?
—————-
I know that you know that the Celtic business model of 1994 were a group of families exclusively owned a limited company and by ignoring all basic rules of business management nearly caused that limited company to go bankrupt, even refusing outward investment, alienating its most loyal (faithful) customer base, forcing it to be saved by a different group of business men and 13,000 ordinary tims buying new shares in a plc.
even in that group of visionaries i bet no one would have said by the way somepoint soon the CEO of this converted company will be the highest paid employee on the books earing in bonus per year the equivalent of 3,000 season cards.
i know you know its not comparable.
-)
Putting together a squad to win every remaining domestic game has come from the realisation that no other team in Scotland will beat Sevco.
We have to acknowledge they’re a good team and well organised. Should we win the title, it’ll be right up with the best of them.
We’ll have to win 16/17 of our 18 remaining games while at least matching them in the remaining derbies to win this league.
The bar is very high. This is a big month.
St Stivs
I just responded to your humorous quip.
There`s always been a laugh to be had with fellow Tims.
AN DUN
I would go as far as to say we would need 6 points from our two remaining league games v them . It is difficult to imagine any of the other teams taking much off them , although the incredible luck they have had regarding injuries (compared to us) surely can’t last .
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST JANUARY 2020 7:55 PM
Peter Lawell was responsible for selling Dalgleish
Hi mate,am just on so apologies if am picking you up wrong 😊
Was this after the bairds bar presser? lol
I reckon he’d be first or 2md years at uni
as Kenny left in 77
Hope yir good mate and a hny
HH
GLENDALYSTONSILS
I’d take 4pts now from the two games although 6 points would almost surely see us win the league.
SEAN THORNTON on 1ST JANUARY 2020 2:40 PM
May your friend Scott Glynn rest in peace
HH
I cant take credit for Collie Dogleash, I remembered it from one of the comics when i was growing up.
Late to the party due to a stinking cold- but A Guid New Year to Wan ‘n’ Aw.
Sunday was awful, but not terminal. KTF.
Like ourselves they have to go to places like Killie, they have to play the Sheep etc they will drop points.
We are effectively one point behind them,
If neither side drop points outwith the Derby games we will need a draw & a win in last 2 Hun games.
It won’t pan out that way, both sides will drop points, we just need to do a wee bit better than them & we will.
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1212000388574003200/vid/1280×720/MtjD0jmmKMpft0aN.mp4?tag=13&autoplay=1
CORKCELT
I don’t think we can assume they’ll drop that many points. At the half stage they’re on course for 100 points.
I think BR got 103 in his first season and nowhere near 100 again.
The bar to win this title is very high – we can’t afford a single bad night or lapse in concentration. Livingston can not be repeated.
Surely one can assume … maybe not take for granted … points will be lost by Celtic and all 11 other teams in the Spl, one thing is factual … the current title holders have been over the course & distance … there is no evidence whatsoever any other team can do what the current champions do … again this is just the actual facts not guesswork on one defeat … which also happened last December the 29th … which lead to the previous season champions retaining their champion status :-)
An Dun, The gap between the top 2 & the rest has definitely widened and who ever comes second is likely to have a record number of points for 2nd place.
There is a different pressure when you are leading. So far when they did get their noses in front it didn’t last long.
There are no guarantees anyone will do us a favour, we just need to keep winning our games & see where that takes us.
However if you think the Huns are not going to drop points to any other team outwith ourselves take it to the Bookies, if you are right you will make a fortune.
SEAN THORNTON
RIP Scott Glynn.
Prayers said for those who remain.
Best wishes to all on here for a great new year.
Wee prayer said for our friends in need.
An Treanmann
Nope, you’re picking me up loud and clear.
He was responsible for selling Dalgleish and also responsible for me stubbing my toe on the kitchen table this morning.
It’s forecast to be blowing a hooley tomorrow where I am.
He’s responsible for that as well.
“and also responsible for me stubbing my toe on the kitchen table this morning”
—-
so the winner of the cqn funniest comment of the year has been won on the first day of the year?
sake man 🤣
Have we bought anyone yet?
IniquitousIV
Win all of our games up to the scum game at Ibrox.Not too difficult.See where we stand then.I have every confidence.We will strengthen this month.We will ,for the naysayers.
The Huns are having a terrific season so far… their results in Europe have impressed me far more than domestically … but I read on here than we are underestimating them as challengers … but surely the same posters on here are underestimating their own team … top of the league (only joint top last season) league cup in the bag … same as last season, winning our Europa league section (first time ever) and seeded in the last 32 (first time ever) …. see if you believe what people want you to believe you will end up believing what they want you to believe …. the Sevs won their first ever game in this incarnation at Celtic Park …. ffs if some “fans” are panicking about that just as well we haven’t went a decade not winning at Ibrox …. again I think the “panic” is an online thing… like everything else the internet is magnified and open to be manipulated
The current champions are still top of the league …. if you need to worry, at least leave it till you have something to worry about …
Celtic losing a title …. (which I don’t think they will this season) isn’t great, but there are a million things more in life to actually “worry” about :-)
As more prominent posters than me post
Keep the faith
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST JANUARY 2020 10:00 PM
An Treanmann
Nope, you’re picking me up loud and clear.
He was responsible for selling Dalgleish and also responsible for me stubbing my toe on the kitchen table this morning.
It’s forecast to be blowing a hooley tomorrow where I am.
He’s responsible for that as well..
Haha :-)))))
HH
If Odsonne Edouard had taken that penalty in stead of Ryan Christie , the blog would have been a different place since Sunday . I’m not excusing the fact that we were below our best , but tiny things can turn games , and Sevco are due a few ‘tiny things’ going against them before the dust settles on this league.
Keep the Faith and happy new year to Celts everywhere.
GFTB – a lot of sense in your posts. Saved me the effort. Thumbs up emoji thing!
Glendalystonsils – the thought about the penalty has crossed my mind. Had we gone 1 up it would have broken them psychologically I think.
They’ve reached their peak this season. We haven’t. If they get better I’ll eat my hat. If we don’t I’ll also eat my hat. The fact that we’ve been indifferent enough for 6 weeks or so and we are still at the top really should worry a team who are performing above themselves.
Oh, a happy new year to all my friends in Celtic. A visit to a Celtic graves tour last year rekindled my love for our club. It brought home what our forebears did for those of us who came after them. They toiled in mines, mills, steelworks, factories and building sites and battled racism and hate to provide us all with a future. And they gave us a helluva beacon of identity in our football team too.
When people ask me my nationality I wish I could say Celtic FC because I feel more belonging to that than to anything out-with my family than to anything else (with the possible exception of organised labour of course!)
Hail hail for 2020 – win, lose or draw!
Celtic 5-0 Rangers | All goals and highlights | Celtic champions of Scotland
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A very Happy New Year to all the CQN crew and those who have left for pastures new.
I hope 2020 is mega for the Celtic and its supporters. Magical both, so they are.
For some reason this time of year seems to mean more Loved ones are lost, often leaving people devastated.
I hope those going through tough times are comforted and helped as much as possible by whomever.
Big Jimmy and others going through health issues. God Bless.
Oh and Celtic – There has to be contingency for Broonie not being able to play @ the hate factory.
Playing him constantly 3 times in a week, If we beat Copenhagen that will happen……means he is likely to not be available (the SFA w*nks are building it up through their media scum).
We need to play a high pressurised game without Broonie starting, IMO. Certainly not Partick Thistle, I’d go Copenhagen away.
Morning ! Happy new year to all ! GFTB! Wish I had your confidence, However the proof will be in the pudding! Hopefully I am very very wrong and we will win the nine ! All the best to everyone!!
weebawbabitty on 2nd January 2020 12:55 am
Morning ! Happy new year to all ! GFTB! Wish I had your confidence, However the proof will be in the pudding! Hopefully I am very very wrong and we will win the nine ! All the best to everyone!!
………………………………………………………….
We have put ourself in a position that we shouldnae be in.
Then again, we now have the chance to rectify things.
It is Gods story so we really cannae make a Difference because we have been Prudent. I know so many people have paid for tickets they likely shouldnae afford.
Sunday was a glimpse into a Zombie Win at the upper echelons.
I think we will win this Despite th@ngs as we are definitely in the End Days.
Those Liars are despicable. Traynor yer nasty nasty nasty.
LOVE is the LAW when ye win a game.
Allow it
Those Bampots @ Youtube Terminated FFM’s great video if I remember correctly.
The Truth is the Truth.
VAR under Scotland Officialdom.
Wow – Way to go Sevco.
Every ground in England is singing a wee ditty.
Imagine the SFA with that POWER. ;)))
Newco are so excited, they are almost Demanding it.
Alex Rae having a ding dong with Sutton on Twitter but I think he’s forgotten the past always catches up with you in the end.
Check this piece below.
BROONY BLAST Celtic’s Scott Brown showed no dignity by taunting Rangers fans at full-time, says Alex Rae
The Hoops captain was the pantomime villain as he celebrated in front of the away support after the final whistle.
ALEX RAE has accused Scott Brown of lacking DIGNITY after the Celtic captain goaded Rangers fans at full-time.
Brown lapped up yesterday’s Glasgow Derby win at Parkhead by doing the ‘Broony’ in front of the home crowd. Scott Brown taunted Rangers fans at full-time.
The celebration sparked a furious reaction from Andy Halliday, who saw red after the final whistle for confronting Brown.
And ex-Ibrox star Rae blasted the 33-year-old’s actions.
He told Sky Sports: “The thing for me was going up to the Rangers fans afterwards and goading them.
“That was why Andy Halliday stepped in. But for me, Andy Halliday should just have stepped away.
Alex Rae slammed the Celtic captain’s celebration
2
Alex Rae slammed the Celtic captain’s celebrationCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
“For me, the Celtic captain should have a wee bit more dignity in what he’s actually doing because to goad the opposition fans… it’s unnecessary.”
Brown was at the centre of attention throughout the 2-1 win and was involved in two heated flashpoints.
Alfredo Morelos was sent off for elbowing him in the first-half, while Ryan Kent escaped punishment for another off-the-ball incident.
SKIPPER ROW Ex-Rangers skipper Hendry says Celtic’s Scott Brown is ‘poorest example of captain’ he’s seen
Rae though, expects Liverpool loan star Kent to face a retrospective ban after lashing out at Brown.
He said: “I’ll be surprised if there wasn’t a retrospective ban tomorrow. You can’t react in that matter.
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“It takes me back to ten years ago when Lafferty sucked in Scott Brown at Ibrox and he got sent off for that incident.
“These things go on. It’s about keeping you composure, the manager will be emphasising prior to kick-off, do not get sent off, do not get embroiled in it and the two younger guys have actually fallen for it.
“But I’ll reiterate, there’s no need for Scott Brown to goad the Rangers fans afterwards.”
henrik1967,
Dude I dinnae ken if yer Genuine.
That should worry you….
After all this Time.
Allow it
I was remiss to give Mega respect and Good Love, Hope and just LOVE to our Host Paul67 and all his crew.
Celtic
We urnae fighting against Flesh or Blood.
Celtic is Fundamentally Good.
Rewind…….
A warning
Love is the Law – try not to Hate.