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’.
717 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- ...
- 19
- »
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11058194_926661517371949_5637514965564737807_n.jpg?oh=4fc86ab27c30a71e4101413f6bc2a4fc&oe=56546AC3
AULDHEID @ 7:28 PM,
Thanks for that, the two players and the 15M was pretty much what I had in mind. The wages seem a bit high, but if that’s the going rate, then so be it.
‘
I know Paul67 has posted many times on the folly of this, but since the Rangers Liquidation, the prospect of not reaching the UCL, by virtue of the fact we were not Champions, has all but gone. Therefore the risk of failure to qualify has diminished. Of course having the tricky knock-out qualifiers remains an ever present danger. So on balance I guess the current strategy is correct.
‘
It would just be nice to get to that next level, where consistent European Football meant extra money for the squad and extra co-efficient points, which in turn leads to more European Football. Rather than the ever decreasing circles of the last decade.
‘
The other thing is the intangibles, it would be interesting if someone could cost the benefits of those from the Seville experience. Extra attendance at Celtic Park, extra interest Globally, leading to extra merchandising. Today with Celtic TV etc. I’m sure there are extra ways we could monetise such an event.
‘
Still we’ll have to do it the good old fashioned way. Get a great Coaching Team, build a quality squad with a great team ethic and over-perform.
It can be done and in Ronny we trust.
‘
BTW: Following our little tete~a~tete on TV rights/platforms, it was interesting to see what Celtic did on Wednesday.
‘
Content is King.
‘
Hail Hail
WITS
Once again sir,”thank you”
HH
Stokes…. The latest CFC player to improve thro absence
add CM to this list
We all wish Celtic would spend on all sorts of things like millions on players, cafes and bars on match days, free tv for those who can’t be arsed to go to Celtic Park on cup games . Without a billionaire supporter such as another Glasgow team supposedly has, Celtic realy needs us on an almost daily basis to buy merchandise et
BT
cheers mate,
Just got myself a wee bit emotional,
Love reading stories about our family.
Testing testing….
And then he shat on a turtle….
Testing testing…..
Black panther…65% of the time it works every time……
Testing testing…..
You know whats good for shoulder pain Derek….
Hail hail
PMJS
50 shades
Lovely wee tale. Met a childhood pal at the game on Wednesday, who became a priest five years ago. Thankfully a Celtic man.
50 shades of green
Thank you .
one wee story or picture from a fellow poster of past memories gets the auld brain and emotions going, as I said earlier the mind is a wonderful thing.
We have everything Celtic to thank those who have gone before us for.
Some folk asking what went wrong with DiMaria and Balotelli.
The clubs signing them had too much money and not enough sound judgement.
Testing
just found this while looking through old saved favs
Green Brigade Junior Capo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2J146riTI&feature=related
Watched the Qarabag game for the first time on youtube yesterday and i still cant decide what this Qarabag team has to offer. They parked the bus just like all SPL sides when they play Celtic Park but Celtic did not create anything like the same scoring chances they would as against an SPL side. Qarabag did not show any attacking side of their game but they still won more corners than us from what I saw. They are definitely vulnerable to the set-piece but gave us few opportunities to exploit this . I agree with the poster that perhaps Ronny should rest some of his squad with Wednesday in mind.
Mary Black – My Youngest Son Came Home Today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF1DNLXMH8c
DD- aye Martin the priest was also spreading the gospel of Celtic as he had 3 young Spaniards in tow from Pamplona.
Did I hear right? Did he say they were Real fans?
Watched the Bundesliga season preview earlier. What I would give for us to be in that league set-up. Without overdosing on tv money, it’s all about top class stadia, full houses and a great fan experience.
Btw I didn’t know The Pope was an honorary member of Schalke 04.
Great picture .
http://i.imgur.com/0beKkWO.jpg
Marrakesh- I’m sure that he’s an honorary Celtic wan anaw. :-)
Which begs the question, do Schalke Quick News bloggers ask for wee sausages during live games?
Ask yourself this before you pick tomorrow’s team, who lost to injury would be a disaster for Wednesday night and who needs game time. Game time include Commons, Forrest and Ambrose, I’d make 11 changes, one essential player lost to injury would be a disaster.
While I’m on I’d like to congratulate the gentleman who will unfurl the flag tomorrow, may be if big Virgil listened to him he’d learn a thing or three, absolute legend.
Stocktons Wing. – Beautiful Affair
http://youtu.be/xmECnIZcvPY
AoW
You heard correct. Three young Real Madrid fans from Pamplona. Now Celtic fans, of course. Along with Agnesca and Zbyszek, who will be at another Celtic game very soon.
JCA
Strongest team tomorrow then Wednesday for me please.
New format is taking time to get used too.
Used laptop, mobile and tablet today.
Can’t find the “do you know a handsome hun?” link
Delaneys Dunky
Interesting. My and my wife names too :-)
Saw this on Twitter …..
http://i.imgur.com/P5CxbOX.jpg
Before ma time ….
Zbyszek
I am sure that you and your good lady are as lovely a couple as your fellow Legia Warsaw supporting namesakes, who live in Glasgow now. :)
Big Nan
Never give up. It is the cancer that has to be rooted out. It corrupts the world.
HH
YNRA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QxNIDGt7GE
Delaneys Dunky
Having watched the team on Wednesday night your correct they need game time to gell, no point debating their short comings they were there for all to see, however an injury to any of the potential starting 11 could be the difference between success and failure on Wednesday.
Really looking forward to Celtic Park and time to have a few pints after the game with a couple of old Celts.
Young Miss Hunderbirds are Gone striding out on the hallowed turf tomorrow to partner her grannie who won a competition to get involved (hang about?) in the flag unfurling ceremony.
I am sure I may spill a tear.
Mike in Toronto
You got a flight yet? Hope you are holding up mate.
Delaneys Dunky
In addition, I’m pretty certain his like my Mother in Law name is Atropine.
WITS.
Top man. The Coral account heading south recently but your tip has given it a timely boost. Nice one.
Tallybhoy.
Welcome back to the Grey country.
We played reserve team away to ict last year and lost to an unlucky own goal
I’d go as strong as possible tomorrow but if biton not 100% we have rogue or play johanson there and Armstrong in his better position
Ton young Ozzie must be a rogue then eh. :-)
Zbyszek
Will ask him on Monday at work.
Hope you are on road to recovery. Will pray at mass on Sunday for your health.
Hail Hail
great hunderbirds – hope they love every second
Zbyszek
Good to see you posting
Hope the recovery is going well
Mr Z, can I just add my best wishes to the bhoys ones and also to confirm that your two fellow Poles were a credit to your country.
…they even like Celtic bovril! :-)