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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The next link
Ironic.
RIP Keith.
Celtic is up against so much.
We need to come together to get 9.
Being away frae hame maist games, IMO, will potentially be a Blessing in disguise after that weak home performance.
The Europa League games will have a mega impact.
I expect both teams to get to the last 16.
It’s Gods Story.
The Despicable bunch will resort to type even more. A draw at the hate factory is the very best we will get. We dinnae have a Lenny and Keano combo that says NAW wee man.
So much conjecture after the game Sunday.
I think the Hun is an even worse winner than a bad loser.
The stadium announcer says the Newco fans would be held in for a period.
The Police Scotland then Blocked aff the road to Springfield to All Celtic Supporters.
9 in a row is gonnae be the HARDEST to get.
Simply speaking, Scotland is Institutionally Racist as Neganon says,
Love it
Celtic unfortunately has an Enemy.
Celtic is fundamentally Good.
Even if we dinnae win this Title I’ll be there next year, paying even mair, the wee man goes to adult prices. :))
Happy New Year – From The Mild But Wet Chiltern… Best wishes on achieving your goals…
Auldheid @ 4:41 pm
That’s an interesting take on Paul 67’s lead. There seemed to be two messages on player recruitment.
There was a message about player development and adding value, PL’s take on moneyball.
And there was an assertion that Celtic would be strengthening and will have a team capable of winning every domestic game.
That means better than Rangers, in fact it means a team capable of beating them at Ibrox.
A few points, firstly on player development; we have in the last decade or so, gained a reputation for developing players and selling them for a great profit, Frimpong being the latest on the conveyor belt.
But as you and I know it’s more of a stuttering treadmill at times. The failure rate is astoningishly high. Now BR had an incredible reputation, rightly in my view, as someone who could develop a player. Yet few development players came through. Boyata, Jamsie, Callum and many players improved. But our “high value” players were always showing that potential – Dembele, Tierney… while Calvin, the Hendersons, Ralston etc never kicked on…
If as P67 suggests, we do recruit, seasoned professionals or exceptional talents, that will take us to the next level, will it be enough?
This time last year we had to throw money at expensive loanees to give us an edge, in the summer we failed to rebuild a squad that badly needed it. And remember the opportunity we had, many loanees going, many out if contract/releases, a vast “war chest”.
The fact we are talking at all about a January recruitment campaign nails the lie that our summer recruitment was a success.
Hail Hail
Is Chris Sutton the only one working in the media
Who is prepared to support Celtic, over the conduct of
Kent and his pretend shooting at Celtic fans
Morales and his throats slitting towards Celtic fans
A Sevco coach and his threats towards Celtic coaching staff
Gerrard assault of a cameraman ???
Just asking, as the media seems to have already lost this behaviour
Chairbhoy 8.08am
Logged off after my last post yesterday and wasn’t intending posting as about to start work but this caught my attention
“ nails the lie that our summer recruitment was a success”
Julien, El hammed, Elyounoussi, Fraser F, Frimpong, fair enough Bolingoli & Taylor seem to be questioned for the same position … but to refer to it as a lie … pretty strange, I happy enough to let Neil Lennon decide on how successful the recruitment has been when the season ends, yet again some posters pick and choose when to question things like this and strange how after the Lazio double header no questioning of the summer recruitment … I suppose we all can take bits n pieces of the season to suit our own mindset :-)
GFTB @ 8:58 AM,
We brought in some very good players and some experienced players this summer.
My point was this though, we had a huge rebuild job to do come the end of last season. Now that doesn’t have to be done over one window, granted.
But what we should have done with so many players to replace and so much cash in the bank was the solid foundations. A good solid backbone…
…yet again some posters pick and choose when to question things like this and strange how after the Lazio double header no questioning of the summer recruitment … I suppose we all can take bits n pieces of the season to suit our own mindset :-)
I’m not at all sure that the beginning of the transfer window is a “strange” time to be discussing recruitment.
After the Lazio “double header”, after the Cluj disaster and after an old firm defeat may see many a “knee-jerk” reaction post. I don’t tend to do them anymore.
It was Paul67 that kicked off this particular debate…
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.”
I’ve been saying for many seasons now that our Managers should be allowed to build a squad fit for purpose.
IMO there is too much intereference and too much dependency on monetary “value” of players, rather than football value.
It’s not something I haven’t said a dozen times.
We should not be panic buying to match Rangers this window… but let’s hope it works eh!!
Hail Hail
Chairbhoy 9.22am
So do you think
“nails the lie that our summer recruitment was a success”
Is a fair reflection on the summer transfer dealings ? Most Celtic fans I know have been more than happy with our new recruits but as fans/supporters we as in nearly all of us want more and want better than we have that’s why we are fans/supporters and not in charge of recruitment or picking the team … I think apart from Cluj, Livvy & the Huns we have had a terrific half a season … but again like you would probably still want us to do better
GFTB @ 9:44 AM,
Well many were happy with the window, many didn’t want Lenny back and changed there mind, most think ge’s doing a great job, we’ve played some great football this season.
But to answer your question…
Yes, I do think that statements fair, our expectations of what our Club can achieve is being managed.
Phrases like we play in Scotland, a footballing back water is often stated.
The fact that we have the potential to play in the UCL against some of the best teams in the World with the resultant riches, rarely is.
Let me give you an example of why I thought it was a poor window…
It’s not whether big Julien is any good or not, it’s mot whether we paid £7M for him and is he worth it or not.
It’s we play 4-2-3-1 as a rule, that means we need a strong striker who can play the one up front role and bring other players in and can score goals for fun in the SPL.
We didn’t buy one. Leaving OE to cover that role on his own for a season was not on. Eddy is somewhere between a 10 and a 9. Good enough for us in either role but needs help…
Hail Hail
I have watched Sunday’s game three times and I agree with those who say that we were not totally outplayed for the entire game. However all our decent efforts seemed to stem more from luck than judgement. We were not allowed to play our own game, never allowed to express ourselves. We were not outplayed, we were dominated and made to perform ineffectually.
I watched the Arsenal v Man Utd match last night and witnessed Arsenal under new manager Arteta, do the self same thing to Utd. Chasing, hunting in packs to win the ball back and generally smothering their game.
As in our game there was a drop off in intensity at around the 70 minute mark and the game became a bit more stretched.
So what do we have to do to win back the initiative?
Apart from the Ibrox team, our game has been lacklustre against lesser opposition on many occasions this season, however the month of December has been tough, we have been wasteful and at times turgid, although winning games, so the performances against them were not a total surprise. Mind you, after Hampden, no one expected a repeat at CP.
I honestly don’t think we will do what’s needed in the transfer window and I am not a board-basher.
We might need to go through the remainder of the season undefeated to retain the tltle. It will be difficult to do with many more away fixtures and will will only be possible if we are able to find a way to adapt our game when we play the Ibrox club.
With the smell of the title in their nostrils, money, or, no money, they will strengthen this month.
I’m really not sure what we will do.
Chairbhoy 11.07am
I do not disagree on the Edouard part, but I think you sort of answer that with your explanation of Julienne, where do we get top notch quality to come to Scotland as back up to our number one striker …
Hope 2020 is good to you, I canny respond as one of the managers keeps catching me on my phone and as this is overtime I am “meant” to be working harder than usual
Hope come 31st January we are praising this transfer window :-)
Eternal optimist CSC
KING LUBO –
Taormina –
https://youtu.be/MK5R2pPWy-8
I’ll be home on -Monday night . I”ll respond to your questions ASAP after that
GFTB @ 11:19 AM,
Fair do’s
Don’t get into bother:)))
Best to you and your family for 2020…
Hail Hail
KING LUBO
Main street -late afternoon – sun going down -less hot -people getting out and about –
https://youtu.be/7Munsx47h2s
Off oot to Ladbroke Grove — choons to buy !!! – . This is one of them –
https://youtu.be/yQV1oillqEw
Now’s when the phoney war ends and the huns ( everywhere) will use their sleekit ways to open every front on Celtica…………..bent biased reffin’ at the start of the season has allowed thems to be closer to us than they should be…………Lest we forget.
Points win Prizes.
Fat Charlie will be sold but not for the monies they need. Like the huns themselves his actions have determined his true worth…….2-3 mullyin…..in dribs an’ drabs.
We have the better players, the team needs a refresh not an overhaul. The rest will do everyone good.
The sleekits will turn their attentions to the age-old worries and fears of Timdom. We’ll see them paraded here, too.
We’ve had decades of hun sleekitry which is why we react so readily to their fishing……..
We know the score.
HH.
Please, a big battering ram of a striker that will actually play games and help OE.
We have know about this deficiency for a long period.
If Moussa goes to Chelsea it gives us even more funds.
Get it done Celtic, the rest will then take care of themselves.
HH to all.
A Sevco supporter sent me a screenshot of the cost of their 11 on Sunday.
Like it or not, they have gotten some considerable return for very little investment (comparatively).
The key to their success on Sunday was rugged professionalism and sheer effort. Davis, despite his years, looked much better than Christie, for example.
I think John McGinn would have greatly assisted Brown, however that ship has sailed.
We need some proven professionals in this winter. Guys who will dig in and do the hard yards, rather than leaving it all to Brown.
Test
RIP to the 66 fans who went to watch a football game and never came back.
Dexter
` Like it or not, they have gotten some considerable return for very little investment`
Their return might not ALL be down to investment.
2 / 1 / 1971 .
66 dead . R I P
Sheriff Irvine Smith -( a man subjected to accusations of ” disloyalty ” —–)
” So far as the evidence is concerned the Board never so much as considered that it ought to apply its mind to the question of safety on that particular stairway “..
A home for the holidays me went to that game . Left the stadium in total ignorance , walked to Garnethill for a wee post match sesh at a mate’s flat , stayed there for a few hours ( still totally ignorant), left , walked to Queens Cross , opened the door and was met by my stressed mother who hit me with the news .
66 Dead -RIP:
SOUTH OF TUNIS
Really grateful for the link thingy, Got to say it does look as I imagined it would, just what the doctor ordered indeed. Look forward to your next info but please, do not go to any trouble on my account.
Many thanks
KINGLuBO
Does anyone on planet CELTIC think that young Karamoko is being kept back to take any pressure off, viz a viz
his obvious talent and prevent prospectors getting at him? After all his 2 year contract must be about up now so I hope and expect Celtic to get him tied down to at least a 5 year deal.
KINGLubO
new article posted.
GFTB
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 :-)
_____________________________________
OK. But what about the Dalglish money?