My friends in Celtic, last season we enjoyed our fourth consecutive league title, a League Cup win, and a disappointing end to the treble pursuit with a penalty defeat in the Scottish Cup Final. That loss was only the sixth domestic trophy Celtic have failed to win in nine years, and three of those came amid the testing absence protocols Celtic observed impeccably in season 2020-21.
The season just finished also saw our successful participation in the first Champions League, league format, which we progressed from, before ultimately losing to an equaliser in Munich. A repeat in Europe this term will be enormously difficult.
Since then, Nicolas Kuhn, our scorer that night in Munich, has left for Como, Greg Taylor went to PAOK, while a number of fringe players also emptied their Lennoxtown lockers.
Kieran Tierney (28) returns to fill the left back slot vacated by Greg, and we have seen a welcome return to a strategy of investing in young players. I am even happier that we have revived our Japan policy, with the arrival of striker Shin Yamada (25 but not long out of uni.) and left-side defender Hayato Inamura (23).
The arrival of striker Callum Osmand (19), from Fulham echoes the road travelled by Moussa Dembele in 2016. The final notable arrival (so far) is Swedish winger Banjamin Nygren (23). Let’s not burden him with the obvious comparison. Past performance of talent sources does not guarantee anything, but we are entitled to be encouraged.
We are a month away from the transfer window closing and the I read that Chris Sutton thinks we are weaker now than at the end of last season. Chris watched more of Kieran last season than I did, and perhaps he watched a lot of Japanese, Danish (Benji) and Fulham reserve football too. If I can go out on a limb, though, this feels like an extraordinary claim without extraordinary evidence. Doom sells more than “Nothing much to report yet”.
I spent much of last term flagging concerns that Brendan Rodgers had gone off-piste. £26m on Idah, Engels and Trusty (not counting the rest) was an alarming venture into territory I hoped he left behind during his latter days at Leicester. Therefore, I am delighted to see the manager back with what looks like a strategic fit.
Moreover, this looks like someone planning for the future, which was a concern I raised after last season’s business.
The window of course is not over and if we are to see off this season’s version of a domestic challenge with our customary manner (customary treble seems unnecessary), while reaching and performing in the Champions League, work needs to be done.
Past performances might again be useful. Our most transformational transfer window in two decades was surely the summer of 2021. Ange Postecoglou arrived and brought in Kyogo, Starfelt, Carter-Vickers, Abada, Juranovic, Jota, Giakoumakis and Joe Hart.
At the end of July 2021, however, only Kyogo, Abada and Giakoumakis had been signed. Of course, we could have signed another central defender rather than wait for Cameron, and there was no reason to wait for Jota, Josip, Carl or Joe. Alternatives were available well before their signing dates.
Fortunately, Celtic decisionmakers knew their targets and set about getting them. A short-term hit wins today’s headlines, but honestly, do we really need short-term hits? Is it perhaps better to get your plan right and follow it to the end, even if it means signing the likes of CCV and Jota on deadline day again?
I cannot believe you and I have this conversation every year. People I know and like, clever people, forget so quickly how these things work. How “Same old Celtic” actually means what we did previously, not what imaginary thing did not happen before.
We win more than anyone in world football – take this for granted and I don’t want to talk to you. We achieve this while running a sustainable business model which is the envy of clubs everywhere. We will continue to spend and strengthen the squad until the window closes (despite having competitive football before then, sellers often choose to wait until near the end).
Michael Nicholson is almost four years in the CEO job. That period has seen our bank balance climb to levels many of us are uncomfortable with (that includes me!). Michael carries the burden of spending that money on our behalf, which does not mean spending everything at once.
Do you want to look at past performance again? Peter Lawwell spent every penny that came into the club over any multi-year period you care to mention. [Gasp! What did the Romans ever do for us?] My expectation is that Michael will do the same. Anyone who thinks this is easy, or that there is complacency, or that they would boss the football industry, sits on a peak on the Dunning Kruger graph.
These are special years, the inheritance of work done by some of the aforementioned, by Martin, Fergus and the 10,000 who backed him. By Jock and the Lions, who picked the club out of obscurity and taught us to aim high. By those who carried Celtic during the dark decades before that, and by those who cleared the ground, when it was decided, “A football club will be formed…..”.
Enjoy the new season and always enjoy supporting Celtic.
Thank you to everyone who attended the CQN Golf Day at Aberdour in June. Blantyrekev and Taggsybhoy recently dropped by at Spirit Aid to drop off the funds raised. The golfers raised £1019.67 which will go to help the most needy in Scotland. Pictured also is Spirit Aid staff Mary Kavanagh and James Ridley (out of picture the indefatigable Patrick Rolink). Bernard Ponsonby (centre) was our fabulous guest speaker. Spirit Aid are dedicated to improving the lives of young people. They are worth of our support and your attention. Celtic fans are always so inspiring.
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If Brendan Rodgers leaves next year,then please Celtic Football Club no Ange, or Lennon back at the club,there is plenty of good young managers in Europe etc,it’s picking the right one.
Just seen highlights of the Sevco game and although that Gassama guy looks sharp he clearly dived to get a free kick in a dangerous position. Sports scene,s commentator said he was clipped but to me he wasn,t touched ,draggin his boot along the ground to get the impetus to fall over.
They,re early at it ,bassas.
Looking forward to going to tomorrow’s game with my son for a load of reasons but mostly to see 3 guys who chose to stay at Celtic unconditionally….no pash about I’m only staying here if Celtic match my ambition.
3 guys who could have made millions more playing elsewhere.
MacGregor
Tierney
McStay
Real Celtic legends.
4-0 to the champions
Ok that’s official we’ve started the season weaker than we finished it. Despite some complete gibberish that would have you believe otherwise.
Blind faith is a very strange thing, I’ve never experienced it and I don’t plan to ever. For goodness sake that’s for the religious loonies, right?
I seem to recall St Mirren being a touch physical and well organised.
We have work to do at this game.
HH
There you go Stivs my forecast was correct as it has been for years. If only the management cared as much as we do.
An TEARMANN
Their keeper was the worst offender for time wasting I saw at Celtic Park last season.
TIMMY7_NOTED on 2ND AUGUST 2025 10:40 PM
Ok that’s official we’ve started the season weaker than we finished it.
Scott Brown said recently that the two best players he’d played with in his career for Celtic and Scotland were Virgil van Dijk and KT
Were a Nic Kuhn down and a KT up, I think thats us stronger
Goodnight all
Thanks for being here. HH
We also have another midfielder who looks like a genuine first teamer, a promising looking left back cover and a better third choice striker
Good night all.
CHAIRBHOY on 2ND AUGUST 2025 8:05 PM
EKBhoy @ 5:00 pm,
…..
I just think they’ve had some preliminary chat about a contract and agreed to get back together, the rest of it is just froth , keeps the club in the headlines
Lookingforwardtothegamecfc
Voltaire CSC
Timbhoy163 on 2nd August 2025 10:26 pm
Agree on that. There’s a big world out there that we need to tap into rather than the insular view we take some times.
So the Board have nothing to do with anything affecting the manager….wow,it’s obviously all self inflicted
Voltaire Smith could have been a coach in the philosopher’s football match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfduUFF_i1A
Philosophers’
Wonderful fun to watch the huns begin to consume themselves on day one, but bad news for Brendan. No way the club will spend big against that level of domestic challenge.
The risk is that huns improve, but we’ll enjoy the fall out for now.
Kelvinbhoy- hope you’re well, Maloney coming in again worries me,I’ve been saying for years as well as a lot on here,that Lennoxtown doesn’t pay it’s way,too much like an old boys network, Mc Manus,O’Dea ,there is very little coming through year on year.Zero imagination, look at Academy’s abroad that produce players for the first team,headhunt these guys and see what they can do,because as it stands it’s a white Elephant, and I do understand that guys heads are turned to go down south
bada bing
sorry but you talk shite about these things
i do not want john or shaun as our next manager.
but both are at their highest level management and coaching certification and badges .
just daft to not understand that
How many players does Rodgers need?
Who’ll be more truthful Martin or Rodgers?
Does realising that tippy tappy is for pretentious fairies work better for Martin learning the fact so early?
Will the PLC hurry up noo with the Green Brigades ban in case the Huns go doon the pan?
Tippy Tappy died when Xavi left Barcelona Pep still hizny got the memo, neither has his pretenders.
Will Stevie Robinson put a spoke in our wheels today with a view to being the soon next Hun manager?
What a time to be alive.
Good Morning Celts
Flag Day
Paul McStay
A Grand Day At Celtic Park
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM @ 9:23 pm
Let’s hope Prince Machiavelli and the bhoys put up a good display today – it will be an interesting team and a great game.
Burnley78 @ 9:46 pm,
Yes, while the batphone turns to hot and cold running guano, it really is beyond our ken
My feelings are that if BR goes the old Board goes, no way they are surviving another clusterguano – silver linings and all that
EKBhoy @ 11:35 pm,
Yes, you make some great points, you maybe right with the froth, let’s hope so…
Me!?
Not so OpTIMistic
Enjoy the game.
COYBIG
Hail Hail
Not happy with the ko time for the Champions ( I know, I know, if you’re not happy what dwarf are you )
But today , the Champions are in action.
Woohoo COYBIG.
Good morning all.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
I think today will be a very difficult game against a big physical opponent who play for set pieces and breaks of the ball, hopefully my anxiety will be quickly eased by the performance of Celtic and sticking away chances.
!!Bada Bing!! on 3rd August 2025 12:29 am
Cheers for response – all good here, hope same with you. I like the way Maloney speaks about the game and hope he can have an impact as the player pathway is a real worry given structure of game up here.
A big shout out to all the bhoys and Ghirls already on the Road.
EG : Coventry Emerald, left at 07.30 hrs
HH.YNWA.
Greenpinata
Hail Hail to the Coventry gang en route. Likewise my pal on the way up from Leicester by train.
Kelvinbhoy
Agree ref Shaun.
Top of the morning bhoys
Happy Flag day,
I had placed the season cards in a different place at the end of last season so clearly forgot whereabouts and couldn’t locate them last night.
So I messaged my sister and my nephew who confirmed that I definitely had them oh oh 🙄
Checked again this morning and I had tucked them away safely in my wallet 🤣.
Thank fook.
I think the new rule of the keeper only having limited time to have the ball will certainly benefit us but other sides as we have witnessed are and will become more physical against us.
My message is let’s win or duals and go and win the match to go clear bhoys.
Hail Hail the Celts are here.
🙌🍀
Maestro
Yup winning duels and playing our football is key.
Reo magic and a bit of KT energy will do nicely.
Then maybe a wee camo from the new guys.
Kasper
KT AJ CCV LS
Cal Reo Engels
Wee Jamsie Adam Maeda
I don’t think there’s any chance of Ange coming back, he was very clear that we were a stepping stone, coming back would no doubt be a step back. As it is, we’ve the best manager in a generation in our dug out, let’s focus on keeping him.
Bit of fun with the Hun
Martini has 2 big oafs at centre half who telegraph their passes into midfield, he’s trying to get them to build from the back after multiple seasons where they had 2 midfield enforcers protecting them.
Diamond wide right and Rascal wide left is not working with a journeyman English bloke anchoring midfield, one show pony on the left wing , a zero skilled person on the right wing and another show pony upfront.
Whilst agreeing with Martini that they were lucky yesterday, tactically they are all over the place and that is the reason why they’re rotten , end of October it will end.
Feels like Mowbray style tactics , exposing centre half’s , complete lack of cover from midfield etc , etc
PedroMartinishortreign
No matter how poor they might actually have been Martin has taken a huge gamble throwing his players under the bus so dramatically and publicly after their first set back.
Does it ever really work?
Seems to me it is more likely to backfire and instil resentment.
Let’s hope so.
I’d start Yang today. Forrest is our best player on the right but I’d keep him for the second half.
We should learn from the cup final – don’t bring on Yang if in need of a goal. It’s not a good place to be.
On this day in 1997,Henrik Larsson made his debut for Celtic
Reading Alex Angle article on this site certainly gives the impression that he accepts the continuity myth.
The Maestro now there was a Celt