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State of the Club Report, summer 2015

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Celtic are about to embark on their fourth season as the last remaining Superpower in Scottish football. The old wars were won, while current challenges on the domestic front are accomplished with ease, but many questions remain about the club’s place in the world, what it’s objectives should be and how best to deliver them.

My expectation is that Celtic’s annual accounts, which will be released next month, will show they club washed its face, largely aided by the sale of Fraser Forster, but turnover is likely to be around 35% below the peak figure from season 2012-13, where we progressed to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, selling tickets and merchandise by the ton.

Season ticket sales are down around 10,000 from their peak a decade ago, reflecting the lack of domestic competition, an overhang of the economic climate, and – I expect – a tail off from what was an unsustainable high during the years of regrowth after the long, dark, 90s. The good news is the distress rate appears to have bottomed out. New blood has replaced old in many parts of the stands, as many learn to appreciate The Game for its sporting merit, not simply a means to three points.

We had a terrible start to the Ronny Deila era. We huffed and puffed in Iceland, were torn apart in Poland, but the performance against Legia at Murrayfield was nothing short of a capitulation. From the opening minute of the game we were worse, much worse, than we were in Warsaw.

Results and performances remained disappointing for months as Aberdeen regularly led the league into the new year, but signs of recovery appeared in the Europa League, where we qualified for the knock out stages and put on two credible performances against Inter.

Last autumn Ronny was under pressure. In another era, this could have been overbearing pressure. The change in managers brought a change in tactics, training and personal objectives, which disoriented the club. It also meant that we didn’t have a recruitment strategy in place for the new requirements.

There are many long term strategic threats, but if Celtic ever lose a league again, it’s likely to be when they embark on such an overwhelming technical change. If we do this again, we need to anticipate the shock and compensate accordingly.

Sporting objectives remain clear: win the league every season “forever and ever” and qualify for the Champions League group stages. Having given this some thought, I cannot see the scenario when we will lose the Scottish league title.

A horizon exists in Scottish football, no one can see beyond 10-in-a-row. This season WILL be five-in-a-row, most bookies are offering 1/33, a 3% return on your money, on this outcome. After that the countdown to 10 will grow louder, but 10 is not a real horizon, it just exists because Jock Stein’s ways were eventually copied. He had no mystical touch, only good strategy.

Rangers should never had stopped at 9. The money they had gave them an enormous advantage. Wim Jansen arrived from nowhere (Japan) with half a team signed by Jock Brown. It defied logic how we won that title, but it’s also clear than many at Ibrox had put their tools away before the start of that season. There is a warning here for Celtic. The latter parts of the Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon eras were all characterised by less innovative signings. More scouting trips to Edinburgh, fewer to Cracow, and the like. When the players, manager or scouts get weary, teams fail.

Achieving Champions League group stage qualification is the most difficult challenge Celtic face. We are clearly a better team than Qarabag, and have considerably more resources, but much of Wednesday night was spent worrying if the goal would come, and about what we would face in Baku. Even if we’re successful, strong unseeded teams will await in our section of the next round draw.

We are more than good enough to win league after league, but we’re not more than good enough to qualify for Champions League after Champions League. This should be Celtic’s objective for the next year – arrive in next summers’ qualifiers with a much better team.

The success of this will depend on Ronny’s ability to turn potential into actual European class players. He can do this, but he’ll need a tail wind. In particular, we have to hope that an earlier, ‘recruit from Edinburgh’ strategy, has not been redeployed in the form of a ‘recruit from Dundee’ one.

There are objective measurements we can point to. We are sound financially, pay our bills when due, have seen off all domestic competitors, will report more than 40,000 season ticket holders, a buoyant retail business and strong commercial partnerships. The stadium looks incredible, whoever conceived of the Celtic Way deserves some credit – but please – finish the job.

Copy what we saw at Murrayfield, put turnstiles at the perimeter of the footprint, build fan zones, build a café outside the ground. 30 years from now people will not sit in stadiums like Celtic Park, they will have better facilities, start planning for them now.

As anyone will tell you, football is a results business, and results over the next four weeks will have an enormous bearing on what state we feel the club is in. Defeat will not mean we are on the wrong path any more than victories mean we are on the right path, but it’s the game we play, so ‘play on’.

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  5. BGX on

    DelanysDunky.. i been slated a million times on here, but i think CQN is worth a members fee, i do mate

  7. Delaneys Dunky on

    BGX

     

     

    I like your posts. Gonnae stop playin the victim card pal. Some like you, some don’t. C’est la vie!

  9. BGX on

    DelanysDunky..Victim card..i will bite my tongue on that…Still think Membership of CQN is the way to go..

  10. jamesgang on

    You know what I love most about Roy Croppie? It’s that when you meet him he looks exactly how you thought/hoped he would!

     

     

    A true Timmish gent.

     

     

    Today I’ll watch the Champions.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  18. Well if you wanna go, K.A.N.O ., Hail Hail , Rain , Sleet or Snow on

    Just checking out the new layout . Always try yo be positive so well done for all the hard work . Proof is in the using.

     

     

    Big thank you to everyone for their support this week and tomorrow .

     

     

    Before you go to bed – and thanks to joellercoaster from Homebhoys – this still makes me well up , not just for the sentiment but also because Joe had the desire and impetus to record this . See you all tomorrow , hopefully – I’ll be round and about the footprint from about 10 30.

     

     

     

    http://Www.thekanofoundation.com/?p=1927

     

    Sanna

  19. Well if you wanna go, K.A.N.O ., Hail Hail , Rain , Sleet or Snow on

    Bgx, jobo , there was was a call to arms about 3/4 years ago re contributing to server upkeep on cqn . I signed up and still Contribute – nothing much, £1 per month , but if 249 others did that then it would help our host. Mail mee and i’ll send details . Oh , and Paul67, thank you for giving us a vehicle for tears , tantrums and terrific times . AH LUV BEING A TIM !

  21. proudbhoy on

    GG and stebhoy

     

     

    Some great posts on how to improve paradise.. Would love to see a hotel put there as a lot of time (huns games/early kick offs) it was difficult getting to paradise early after a mad night in Glasgae.

     

     

    Couple of indoor pitches be good, I know the ones in Derry are basically booked up every night of the week..day time but quieter but in sure some local youth groups in glasgows East end could take up some really cheap bookings.

     

     

    Get the young kids around the stadium as much as possible and they will eventually be dying to play inside in the stadium .

  22. jmccormick on

    Big day ahead, flag day obviously. Firstly however first day of gym rehab on doctors advice to go easy…..this will not be fun. Always Celtic Park to look forward to though….

     

    Hail! Hail!

  23. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Morning cqn

     

    Sannabhoy

     

    I’ll be at cqn around about 11am with mini and Matthew

     

    If you need any extra hands give me a shout

     

    Acgr

     

    Try the merchant city in , it’s ok even after Oldtim used it :-)

  24. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    jmccormack

     

    Good luck and do as doc ordered

     

    Mine told me I still can’t do any nearly a year after my last op :-(

  25. fleagle1888 on

    FINAL CALL :

     

     

    CQN Saturday Naps Competition

     

     

    Lads, for all the part-time punters out there… our CQN Naps competition resumes TODAY, and hopefully twists n turns will be around to defend his crown.

     

     

    In order to confirm your entry, please send me an e-mail stating your CQN username to : fleagle29@ymail.com.

     

     

    After that, the RULES are relatively simple :

     

     

    a) On each Saturday, log onto the last page of the previous CQN article.

     

    b) Post only ONE ‘nap’ selection from any major Saturday horserace meeting (e.g. UK, Ireland, Dubai)

     

    c) If your initial selection is a Non-Runner, you may select an alternative runner, also on the Saturday.

     

    d) If your NAP wins, you will “win” the hypothetical profit from a £1 stake @ Starting Prices (S.P.)

     

    e.g. your selection wins at 9/4, your hypothetical profit is +£2.25

     

    e.g. your selection wins at 5/1, your hypothetical profit is +£5.00

     

    e) If your nap loses or if you fail to post a selection, you “lose” your £1 hypothetical stake (-£1)

     

    f) If anyone wants to join the competition late (e.g. in Week 3) you will be allocated 2 losers, and will start the competition from (-£2)

     

    g) Our CQN Naps Champion Tipster will be the CQN punter who shows the greatest overall profit during the season.

     

     

    Last season the competition lasted for 42 weeks, and twists n turns was the champion tipster, with +£46.88 profit

     

     

    Happy punting everyone…

     

    :)

     

    Cheers, fleagle1888

     

    (–Bangalore CSC–)

  31. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Big Nan have a great day with the grandkids and I am sure the sun will be shining when that league flag flies

  32. Big Nan on

    Gerryfaethebrig on 1st August 2015 7:43 am

     

     

    Big Nan have a great day with the grandkids and I am sure the sun will be shining when that league flag flies

     

    – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/state-of-the-club-report-summer-2015/comment-page-14/#comments

     

    ……………………………………………………

     

    Thanks Gerry, no matter how many times I see it fly it always brings a tear to my eye.

     

     

    Apologies to the late great William Topaz McGonagall poet and tragedian.

  33. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Noticed ole sports direct selling pretty green gear now

     

    Orcs and Liam Gallagher both raging

     

     

    No change there then

  34. Parkheadcumsalford on

    Morning all.

     

     

    Bright and cool down here.

     

     

    Good to see John Clark being give the honour today. Great servant of the Club. Best sweeper I’ve seen in the Jersey.

  35. Tallybhoy on

    Morning all.

     

     

     

     

    Happy flag day!

     

     

     

     

    Delighted for John Clark, a true Celtic legend.

     

     

    HH!!

  36. KevJungle on

    Blantyre Tim and all other Celts going to the game today…..enjoy when that League Flag goes up….that’s what it’s all about….magic, just magic…..me?….I’m a bad omen at the minute…was working last night so, I’ll be going to my kip shortly and…will sleep throught the days events comfortable in the knowledge that…it’s green and white ribbons on the trophy and not, the butchers-apron-cheating-sons-of-satans-hauns-colours that’ll be on it.

     

    New CQN is grand…well done to all – Hail Hail

     

    Take care Tims….oot. YNWA.

  38. tonydonnelly67 on

    So glad the brush is unfurling the flag today, one of my all time great Celtic players, and also a lovely lovely man, God bless him and I hope he has a good Celtic win day.

  40. jinkyredstar on

    That was my first successful post. Installed Puffin, no dice with Safari. Hopefully teething problems.

     

    Enjoy ‘Flag Day’

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