My friends in Celtic, on Sunday we will gather to watch the league flag fly high above Celtic Park, the Scottish Cup is on display in the boardroom and in six weeks we will be among the first fans to watch the new Champions League format get underway.
Financially, things have literally never been better. A year ago, our net cash position was £72m, aided by the ridiculously inflated price achieved for Jota (love him lots but never a £25m player). Since then, we have banked Champions League money and the bounty from the best commercial deals in the land. We have known worse.
Despite the welcome permanent signing of Paulo Bernardo yesterday, at this stage of the transfer window, we are weaker than we were at the end of the season. There is a substitute striker shaped hole in the squad, which Adam Idah is doing his best to fill. For the (very) hard of thinking, let’s remind ourselves:
You can sign any old rubbish early in the window (with a few exceptions), but clubs who own players in demand do not sell until late August. If you are in doubt, think of Matt O’Riley, who is clearly wanted by clubs in England and Italy, but there is no amount of money Celtic would be prepared to accept until late in the window AND they have backfill. This is how transfer windows work, the whole world knows it, so let’s not pretend we are new to the game.
One year ago, Celtic were hot favourites to win the league. They had just successfully retained their title, had money in the bank with no Champions League qualification worries. After three years which saw a league title, a Europa League final and Champions League participation, our only challengers, Newco, were back in crisis mode.
Michael Beale was sacked in October as their season fell apart. What should have been a procession to Celtic’s third successive title, turned into a mishandled campaign. Our disintegration on the park was so evident, by February I was convinced we would lose the league (don’t think I mentioned that here at the time).
History is the tale of fine margins. Philippe Clement steadied Newco and overturned Celtic’s lead in the table, but the steam escaped from his engine on a field in Dingwall in April. It was a stupid result the like of which Celtic endured earlier in the campaign, but Clement’s ability to push his squad had expired. For Celtic, this was an enormous break.
That campaign is a lesson for anyone who believes we are a shoo-in for four-in-a-row. A few injuries (you can bet we will get them) and a failure to successfully develop supporting players (you can bet……), and we could be plunged into trouble again.
It is popular to poke fun at Clement, but he is a far better manager than Beale, Gerrard or McCoist (who was hopeless). If he stays in Glasgow, he will build his own team and put proper pressure on Brendan, even with a budget which is likely to be significantly below ours.
Our budget and development strategy was easy to ascertain for a long time; not so much now. That £72m net cash position we reported a year ago is likely to be dwarfed when the figures for the year to June 2024 are released; I expect at least £10m on top of that.
When our old pal Peter Lawwell was in charge, he lived to the motto, “Every penny that comes in will be spent over any business cycle you care to mention” – and they still complained! Peter lived at the sharp end of football and once told me, “When people give you money, there is an expectation you will spend it.”
Let’s be clear, having lots of money in the bank is a great thing for a football club; if the tables were turned, you and I would be distraught at the comparison across the city. But that expectation Peter Lawwell talked about remains. Celtic are a football club who have a duty to invest appropriately in football stock.
How we invest is also important. The model which found and developed Matt O’Riley and which works for so many aspiring clubs in Europe, is without question the way forward. Alternative models, where clubs buy players at their peak, earning big wages and without scope to appreciate in value, is full of short-term gain but has zero strategic benefit.
We should also acknowledge a harsh fact. Great managers, though Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rogers were for us, the last Celtic boss who achieved anything in Europe was Neil Lennon. Celtic are in the Champions League again this season because our coefficient monkeys across the city did very well in Europe for three successive seasons.
I expect we are now at the end of that cycle and Scotland’s coefficient will drop for a period. This will make Champions League income less likely, irrespective of what money we spend or signing strategy we follow.
Our board can expect a peak cash position next summer. Their challenge is to take what is unquestionably an embarrassment of riches, and develop the team and facilities in a manner which grows the top line.
If you think that’s easy, I suggest there is a peak on the Dunning Kruger chart for you. Players competitively valued in the £10m bracket (i.e. by others in the market, not just by Norwich City), tend to have lots of options, usually a few better than the Scottish Premiership. They also have pay offers which would blow apart Celtic’s wage structure. Having all that cash guarantees you nothing.
There are other calls on our resources. Celtic Park is a 20th century stadium and we are already a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Football fans tolerance has changed over the generations. Consumer expectations in the middle of this century will be miles ahead of what we currently call home.
I would like to see a 20-year plan to redevelop Celtic Park. Turnstiles should be at the edge of the footprint, not at the stadium. Fans arrive at the ground early as it is, even without anything to do, but we should get them through the gates and into restaurants, cafes, shops and bars. Not just merchandise shops either.
The South and North stands are poor. Hundreds of office staff work in the South Stand, all office business should be relocated to Barrowfield or another area of the footprint. We are a football club which is short of premium seating area. There is a huge space which can be used for premium seating area right beside where the fans sit. Make it happen, or at the very least, tell us why such a move does not offer a return on investment.
I am more familiar with the North Stand. The top deck has fewer facilities than anywhere else in the stadium. It is also the highest part of the ground and on a warm day like Sunday, the wind will cut you in two. The premium seating area is too small to walk around, never mind properly dispense food.
This stand overhangs the Eastern Necropolis and Janefield St. Before Celtic Park was redeveloped in 1994, Janefield St was a mixed residential and commercial road. Celtic were required to keep it open for traffic. Now Celtic Park is the only property on the street and the road is a local rat-run outside of match days. The whole area should be redeveloped.
I have no idea what it is possible to do in or over the cemetery, but if there is nothing more can be done, we have to acknowledge that the North Stand Upper is under-provided for and price it accordingly. We need more premium seats (South Stand) but we will always need cheap seats. Celtic have to cater for those who cannot afford expensive days out.
If we struggle to attract players to Scotland, I am sure the support would get behind a plan to upgrade our facilities and prepare Celtic Park for the next generation. The next two years could be our last opportunity to consider this action for a very long time.
Right now, I give Celtic a 70% chance of winning the league this season (3% higher than a year ago). There is work to do, even if Matt O’Riley stays, I am not convinced with midfield, defence or attack options. Clement has his hands full but expect him to make the most of what is available to him.
There is no reason to expect anything substantial from the Champions League; the successful Gordon Strachan era is now a distant memory. What we do have, is abundant options, hard earned over decades.
Celtic Quick News started 20-years ago last week. A few months in, when we were losing on the park and letting the league slip away, I noted we were in the early years of a Generation of Domination. It was totally obvious. One large club in Scotland had a plan to pay its bills, the other was playing casino football and would inevitably crash and burn.
20 years on and nothing has changed. Celtic continue to act strategically, Newco act without a thought for tomorrow, despite John Bennett’s words. Until Newco tell their fans they need to spend less on wages and transfers, and live with coming second to Celtic for a period of years in the hope of an improvement in the medium term, nothing will change. We will lose the odd league and cup, but goodness, this Generation thing is outlasting anything we dared dream of.
Celtic is a great gift to us, enjoy every minute of the season, win, lose or draw.
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VALE BHOY on 3RD AUGUST 2024 9:15 AM
Heading for Lisbon today.
Some details to add to Quadrophenian’s post.
Get a train from Cais do Sodre station to Cruz Quebrada on the Cascais/Estoril line. The stadium is walkable from there.
I think I saw a post on here or SC in the last couple of days that detailed August dates when the stadium was in use and unavailable to visitors. Might be advisable to see if you can find that post.
Enjoy your visit…
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND AUGUST 2024 11:46 PM
Apologies Melvin
I got you mixed up with scullybhoy who will be in the Bauhaus tomorrow.
Just a senior moment
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😂👍
once again
I think both of our main rivals will drop points today.
Paul67 et al
“By February I was convinced we would lose the league….” mmmm
From losing to Hearts (just three days after beating Feyonoord) in mid December through to the end of the February that so troubled you Celtic played twelve league and cup games, won ten and drew two.
On 03 March we lost again to Hearts away in the most controversial match of the season, one which, paradoxically galvanised Brendan and us. From there we went on another run of twelve league and cup matches winning eleven and drawing one, a run from mid December, and one which Brendan alluded to yesterday, of twenty five games with only one defeat. A defeat, after which Brendan, and Celtic put the SPL referees on notice that we had had enough. And strange as it may seem that worked.
No no no Paul, I’m not buying whatever it is you are selling, a debunked Dunning-Kruger, no, given your evident disappointment on Brendan’s return, the distant drums becoming more faint, being out of the loop, your incessant negativity, it is more likely that far from being “convinced we would lose the league” but rather, perhaps consciously, or unconsciously or sub-consciously, you hoped we would lose the league.
Pour encourager les autres…
One night in Lisbon
You may not like what i type but here goes.
Peter Lawell is a Celtic man
Chris McKay is a Celtic man
Thats 2 i know of.
Sad thing is you let them define what Celtic is to you,it seeps out your posts,the difference is you or i have a girn and voice something thats wrong no worries,either of those 2 do something wrong and it impacts us for years.Steering the good ship Celtica is a complex task today.
take Peter out your head and relax,your heading for a stroke with your loathing,youd probably enjoy Celtic more.
HH
An Tearmann on 3rd August 2024 10:49 am
LOL. I’m totally relaxed and could not be healthier my friend.
“Celtic” men you say…..aye right….
Will Hearts do their usual and throw the game against their west coast brethren or will they feel compelled to try given it’s the first game of the season🤔
We’ll soon see.
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 3rd August 2024 10:53 am
Surely the mini huns will have no better a chance against them.
We have, however, been down that road before.
I would not be putting my mortgage on a home win unfortunately, we can but hope….
CELTIC MAC @ 10:45 AM,
Fabulous stuff… absolutely spot-on
Hail Hail
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 3RD AUGUST 2024 10:54 AM
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Spot-on.
I’ve gone 2-1 to Hearts today more out of hope, but fully expect them to be 3-0 down at ht or something, like they usually do against their big cousins.
Especially with that wee hun Naismith in charge.
Melvin Udall on 3rd August 2024 10:59 am
One of the more difficult venues in the league (not for them though) with a full house on the opening day of the season….surely not too much to ask…
Celtic Mac 10.45 – spot on.
Paul simply doesn’t like our manager. He’s perfectly entitled to that opinion but should just come out and say so instead of the snidey digs at any opportunity.
I wrote earlier in the year that it appeared some Celtic supporters wouldn’t be too bothered if we lost the league because Rodgers would likely be sacked.
Yes, none would be surprised if Hearts get hammered.
Celtic Champions Again SS3
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM @ 11:06 AM,
Read the lead again…
The architect of our Double last season doesn’t get a mention in that regard
And as you say, snidey digs as we were a shoe in for the treble and then “Fraudgers”
mishandled stuff and presided over a disintegration on the park.
Yet our Chairman who has absolutely nothing to do with anything – honest guv’
Gets Eulogised
C’mon
Get Real!!
Hail Hail
For anyone planning to go to Lisbon in August
Post
18 yard man & Vale bhoy.
CELTIC FC SLO
@CelticFCSLO
Some updated info on National Stadium closure dates/times for the month of August:
· August 6: 1pm to 7pm
· August 17: 2pm to 9pm
· August 21: 8am to 2pm
· August 27: 8am to 2pm (Change of game time
Superbru Update
With the late addition of A thing of Beauty and Cosy Corner Boy, we are up to 69 participants at the starting line and all have made their predictions without a last minute reminder. With such crowded field I don’t want too fast a start to the first fence and I hope that enough of you are predicting a win or a draw for Baldemort’s B****ring B***ards, to leave me and the Anyone But Sevco punters a clear lead at the start. It may be the last time Friesdorfer and I get to be in the lead.
Seriously, big thanks to everyone that entered and I hope you all support our Last Man Standing Competitions when they start, as we reduced the fund raising element of Superbru to leave you some funds to take part in these important fund raising competitions.
For anyone who has entered and has not contributed the £10 entry fee, you can pay the entry fee as below (recipients of funds raised will be announced soon and 50% of entrance money will go to prize money):-
Details of how to pay to the Walk With Shay account are:-.
By cash in person to CRC at Celtic Park (CQN Corner)
By bank transfer to
Account name: Walk With Shay
Account number: 15326765
Sort code: 80-22-60
Bank: Bank of Scotland
Ref: Enter your name or moniker (not CQN predictor, as we cannot identify you!)
By paypal to walkwithshay@yahoo.com (please send as gift, so prize money pot is not diminished by paypal charges).
Good luck to all. Whether you have a season of Magnificence, Misery or Meh! in the table, there is a good chance that, with 38 gameweeks, every dog can have his day, even Friesdorfer, Belmont Brian and The Lurkin Tim.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND AUGUST 2024 7:36 PM
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That’s the £10 Superbru fee sorted.
Trying to figure out how to send£10 as a gift on PayPal to the walkwithshay email.
Any help appreciated?
Cheers. 👍
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 3RD AUGUST 2024 11:26 AM
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Doh!
I’ll just send another £10 to the bank account.
On it now! 😳🤷🏼♂️🙄😂😂😂
Coneybhoy & Greenpinata
“Bauhaus? Well i suppose they will be In Parties😎”
“Bauhaus in Partick has pulled its last pint. It is a deceased venue i think.”
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I will be in a Brauhaus, despite the Spellcheck correction.
Just as well I never said Bawdy House😀
Afterwards I might be lucky to find my way back to My Bloody House
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 3RD AUGUST 2024 11:26 AM
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Had to send £11 as the charity donation. As £10 was showing as a duplicate payment and wanted me to wait an hour before sending.
Hope that’s all sorted and well done for raising funds for this cause.
👏👏👏🇮🇪⚽️🏆🍀
onenightinlisbon on 3rd August 2024 10:51 am
An Tearmann on 3rd August 2024 10:49 am
LOL. I’m totally relaxed and could not be healthier my friend.
“Celtic” men you say…..aye right….
ONIL
Glad you are in good health ONIL
Yeh fookin right!!
How very staunch ONIL,questioning what determines another Celticfans Celticness.
My experience of PL re Celtic goes back nigh on 60 years,from primary School.CM since he was doing his degree and travelling on our local supporters bus.
What is the basis of your staunch determination?
And
Would you not be offended if your Celticness was questioned?
HH
onenightinlisbon @ 10:14 am
The sooner Lawwell and his like are chased from Celtic the better.
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OK ONIL
That is your position.
Fair enough (Genuinely).
Perhaps without using the word ‘boycott’ ….
…. What’s the plan?
BTW – for what it’s worth?
I expect R2ngers to win today.
Valebhoy
Enjoy Lisbon,a special place.
Follow the advice given
:-)
HH
Celtic simply have to support Brendan this time around. He has settled back in to the task in hand, the mini tour to the USA tells us that. The new CL format might just favour us to some extent, eight matches, every game a one off, with four at home where we saw some green shoots last season. But I think we all agree (with Brendan) that we have to be stronger than where we are now to make some kind of progress in Europe. The transfer market seems to be changing, in the winter break EPL clubs spent only 10% of what they had in the same period the previous season. Quiet thus far this summer too. That might favour us too
This still Brilliant
https://www.google.com/search?q=skinner+and+baddiel+tommy+gemmell+clip&rlz=1C5MACD_enGB1097GB1097&oq=skinner+and+baddiel+tommy+gemmell+clip&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTIzMTg0ajBqOagCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bc52afff,vid:g6H3kleEmi8,st:0
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/resources/images/18362311/?type=mds-article-620
god bless tommy burns
100 years of history from Glasgow’s Calton in 10 amazing pictures
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/24483286.100-years-history-glasgows-calton-10-amazing-pictures/
An Tearmann on 3rd August 2024 11:39 am
I would do all in my power to ensure that the team from Govan was wiped from the face of the Earth.
Don’t see any evidence of that coming from the “Celtic men” on the board.
I could not care less about my Celtic Ness….being questioned.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 3rd August 2024 11:40 am
Totally understand that this is no easy task but why not boycott?
I am getting most pages on normal font,but for some reason the next page will hift to miniscule font.UnreadbleTried a few things,but no joy.Happens on other sites too.Anybody help?.
Hearts squad much stronger than last season
Anything about Clements registering Propper for CL on Tuesday,but not registered on time for today?.
Bada,
The guy Dhanda from RC is a great buy.Very good player.
On my way to Edinburgh Airport, will thank you properly, bhoys, later.
Thanks for the advice and good wishes.