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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ERATIC on 1ST AUGUST 2025 3:35 PM
Brendan having a wee dig at the board on sky….
“ I have to convince the board to push to get the players in that we need for the gaps that we have, I’m clearly not doing that job well enough “!
All said with a wry smile !
—-
That’s practically word for word what Ange said in the summer of 2021.
“If it’s just something to maintain, I’m not the manager for Celtic. It’ll be someone else.
BR nicely highlighting the ‘stand still’ mentality that currently pervades the Celtic boardroom.
If the team struggles on Sunday, methinks an uncomfortable afternoon awaits those a few rows above the tunnel.
Rodgers has thrown the Board right under the bus there 🤣🤣🤣
TIMMY7_NOTED on 1ST AUGUST 2025 3:44 PM
I don’t think it’s the smartest way of getting what he wants but it’s effective in its own way
Timmy7
I would sign the profile of player Brugge has signed. We can afford it.
celtic40me on 1st August 2025 3:39 pm
The situation is created by the sheisters on the board.
It’s clear a number of them didn’t want the manager back and are doing all they can to ensure he is away at the end of his contract.
This could have been cleared up months ago but yet again the idiots who run our club are happy with the chaos they create.
If the Lawwell faction prevail we’ll be right back in the slow lane again. The likes of Brugge will leave us in their dust.
TootingTim
If you’re about.
Awe Naw on sentinel celts asked if you could send him a WhatsApp message.
Who’d be a manager……
Ucht okay … I suppose would give it a go for £60k a week , wouldn’t get oot of bed for any less though !!🤨🤣
I wonder if the board have sounded out Ange about a return to Celtic next summer.
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 1ST AUGUST 2025 3:57 PM
celtic40me on 1st August 2025 3:39 pm
The situation is created by the sheisters on the board.
He’s said himself today this is about getting the players he wants, it’s his job. Theres ways and ways, Brendan chooses a very high risk, highly confrontational approach.
An Dun @ 3:01pm – thank you.
Upon second reading, a slightly challenging tone in my question.
Perfectly reasonable response.
As you say, Paul67 introduced 2021.
Cheers.
Can we have a State of the Board Report?
Wonder what it would say?
celtic40me on 1st August 2025 4:11 pm
Wonder why he feels he has to do this?
Paul67,
I don’t know why you bother anymore. The utter venom that has been spouted on here today in response to your article appalls me. Why they bother to come on to CQN to even read what you provide baffles me, as it seems only to anger them.
By the way, I DO hope you continue.
Ray Winstone’s Big Disembodied Heid on 1st August 2025 4:15 pm
Can we have a State of the Board Report?
Wonder what it would say?
Too many of them far too comfortable in their positions.
Zero accountability.
Needs a complete revamp
Not fit for purpose
Have I missed anything
timmy7_noted on 1st August 2025 2:46 pm
%
Why would the board full of sleekit fat assed sharks respect people who live on their knees throwing money at them?
Parkheadcumsalford on 1st August 2025 4:17 pm
Paul67,
I don’t know why you bother anymore. The utter venom that has been spouted on here today in response to your article appalls me. Why they bother to come on to CQN to even read what you provide baffles me, as it seems only to anger them. By the way, I DO hope you continue.
*well paul knows who the hunterlopers are so he is only posting to us that actually care and like his da’ lived through the years in the wilderness
KevJungle on 1st August 2025 4:20 pm
timmy7_noted on 1st August 2025 2:46 pm
%
Why would the board full of sleekit fat assed sharks respect people who live on their knees throwing money at them?
So the fans who support our great club are on their knees?
What do you suggest?
ONIL. I think you’re just warming up. : )
WhatsApp – Facebook – Backdoors – Lobby groups
Oh dear!
Brendan voyage strikes an Iceberg?
Apparently we’ve to believe there are no quality players in the data base that will come to Celtic, D’oh…… try there are no quality players in the data base we will buy, either that or they’re not looking right. The strategy of ‘Elite Manager’ has served Celtic well, so has buy low sell high, but there comes a time. It seems the time is now, as elite managers demand and reject players, at a rate of knots, way too fast for this Celtic. BR has sifted and shifted a fair few players at Celtic some of them are still yo-yoing, on their 2029 contracts , and others would have wanted them developed.
Indignant about his position even although his body language might now betray him, in the obvious “ emptying “ process of his last year, which might still end in never having lost a league. Celtic seasons about to start “ the boys are working hard behind the scenes “ “all good“ “difficult market“ “club signings” “ Michael and I want the same things “ “ I want another striker “ blah, blah,blah . His transfer record which the cynics pounce on is full of plus and minus, the same as Maley, McGrory,Stein, McNeil, MON, yada yada yada
What usually happened next was we still won the league whilst so called BR signings, got special scrutiny because ‘he‘ paid top dollar ( maybe a bit too top ). But let’s face it, that could never continue just to keep us ahead of Rainjurz or in eternal European limbo nearly a quarter of a century after Seville.
Transfer prices have gone crazy, comparing fees paid by Brentford or Brighton is a pure waste of time. Try Basel, Sturm Graz Braga or Brugge, for sure and you’ll see how our spend is being dwarfed in the grip of financial prudence, that haunts the club . We’ve just outspent Hibs, yes Hibs, we don’t buy for European contention, ‘last year of contract’ was the talk of the steamie, now its a thing, and all you can hear is boardroom purring. ( see the lead )
We are heading back down to where the poor boys dance, discussing the latest steps, staying in partnership, back in the same markets, and reopening our stands to noisy ‘Euro specialist’ neighbours.
The up priced season tickets are long sold, new kits, new prices by the week, new ways to extract money from the supporters hit the inbox, or your pocket all summer. PLC kerching you might, or might not be lucky enough to rock up in Parkhead on Sunday, if you do you’ll probably not notice a thing, there shouldn’t be a debate about whether we’re better than the last drawn visit against the same team. 50,000 Celtic supporters completed a fan survey, it doesn’t need to be left to the imagination why we’ve never heard, what’s in it.
Only at our club, would you get , the more we accumulate the less we’ll spend, flying the league flag is no longer enough to manage at Celtic, maybe next year it will be. We know for certain if we manage to win the league we know for certain who won’t be raising the flag.
Will he turn the ship round with “ club signings “ has he given up? A thriving PLC as but a support as tired as the stadium or dewey eyed Celtic sentimentality. A club in need of total transformation with or without Brendan Rodgers continual kicking it all down the road, is the wrong answer.
Enjoy the match CSC
Ray Winstone’s Big Disembodied Heid on 1st August 2025 4:25 pm
ONIL. I think you’re just warming up. : )
I’m a “bedwetter” extraordinaire…..
BRs presser comments on the one hand are concerning and on the other encouraging.
I say that because he clearly has told the board that for him to stay he expects more investment. Therefore, if he commits to stay we can expect more investment.
However if the board refuses to back him and he goes next season then you and I as paying supporters need to consider voting with our feet. And don’t give me the grand old team, we’ll be there to give the bhoys a cheer guff- it’s not the boards money- it’s ours- the season book holders, merchandise buyers, Celtic tv subscribers, shareholders.
So the board better shape up or it won’t just be BR not at Celtic Park next season
KevJungle on 1st August 2025 4:25 pm
EH?????
Always good to read things twice.
And, re my above post, applies to one’s own posts before clicking the POST COMMENT button.
Still really liked your article Paul.
I saw an earlier accusation of complacency? I didn’t see it.
I’d query the wording on this bit though ..
“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.”
Not sure on “alarming” and also unsure on the comparison with Leicester.
While he was manager, Leicester spent big money on players who did little to improve the team such as Vestergaard and Souttar.
On signing Triple-A … I think they improved us.
I can see the financial perils of splashing out £26m for 3 players every summer.
While I am not advocating that .. I think an occasional splurge to support (and frankly to benefit from) a sustainable trading model is acceptable.
PS – Paul, you could say something unequivocally nice about our manager once in a while?
He’s a very decent coach and a smart guy.
IMHO, we are better for having, and keeping him.
That he is a strong personality who fancies himself a bit and occasionally plays it cute for the fans and the media?
Strong leaders should really be able to manage that type of employee.
At last,the Penny seems to have dropped.For those still supporting these charlatans running our club,what will you come on whimpering about if we don’t win through in the qualifier?.What excuse could you possibly make?.
In the midst of the angst among a vast swathe of the support,what sort of timing is it to come out 2 days before our first game,and issue a punishment to the GB?.A group that are arranging a display for two of our recently deceased Lions on Sunday?.Talk about not reading the room !!!!!.One of the offences includes ” A Palestinian flag”.Really ?No more info?That alone shows you the utter disdain these trumped up nobodies hold for the people who work hard to pay their bonuses.Assholes to a man.
.
Paul,I never speak out against any of your posts,in respect to you,but todays article was an absolute disgrace.
But big Pedro is a real “Celtic Man”……
For the good of scoddish fitba’ and the bigot pound…….you do wonder if our right wing board want the huns to win the league.
This also of some concern, if true.
https://www.67hailhail.com/news/celtic-slap-green-brigade-with-three-game-suspended-ban-as-one-of-two-reasons-outlined/
fourstonecoppi on 1st August 2025 4:38 pm
Sounds absolutely and utterly ridiculous though….doesn’t it…………………
I for oe will be wearing my ‘Saoirse don Phalaistín’ tshirt on sunday.
GIRFUT
one
https://x.com/scotlandsky/status/1951280974655865093?s=48&t=pLERKYVBy2vfK2Cym_B3Tw
Brendan interview with Sky
Trust me I’m an accountant.
5 Way Agreement? What 5 way agreement?
He was definitely the best man for the job. The fact he was my son is just a coincidence.
Nothing to see here. Move along now. We know what’s best.
I’m right you’re wrong. I’m big you’re small.
Danny de Vito CFC.
onenightinlisbon on 1st August 2025 4:21 pm
KevJungle on 1st August 2025 4:20 pm
timmy7_noted on 1st August 2025 2:46 pm
%
Why would the board full of sleekit fat assed sharks respect people who live on their knees throwing money at them?
So the fans who support our great club are on their knees?
What do you suggest?
%
You have to finance the thoroughly Old Firm corrupted group of lying bassas before you can get entry into the stadium that yours and mine money built.
I suggest “Emptying The Park” and financially draining the toxic disgusting PLC swamp, AND, replacing them with 3 Tims in the whole of Timdom, who can be trusted, and not be made an arse of, THE LION’S ROAR, CANAMALAR, ERNIE LYNCH, who will speak in a straight line, show you were all of your money has gone, and ROBUSTLY represent the club, not be bought or other wise corrupted and better manage it, etc, etc, etc, etc.
The likely route to this Celtic Utopia is for a space ship full of Aliens to arrive on the Celtic Way, with green and white hooped shamrock shaped heads offering new anti Hun virus vaccines that help Timmy to see clearly and the ultimate Tim miracle cure of helping Tims to get over themselves and their big fat egos and see that folk like me are not trolls, but just humble helpers for the heads up their asses Tims who argue about a load of piss and NEVER deal with all of the big Sumo sized Elephants dancing round about them all the effin time.
Not much to ask is it.
Last Season we came as close as possible to a treble and a decent performance in Europe. The new format seemed to suit us.
We do not know what Brendans future plans are beyond this season but I bet that Brendan will stay if he wants to stay and there is little the Board can do about it. I dont think the Board have planned a replacement at this time.
There is so much nonsense talked in both MSM and Fan blogs. Celtic meantime keep silent on the matter. No one at the club talks about targets. players come and go and there are often surprises.
Patience is a virtue greatly lacking in so many of our support. The transfer window has now become a twice a year frenzy and even though I do understand the reasons why, we should by now appreciate better the unwritten rules of the game. It’s no longer, and hasn’t been for many years now, simple negociations between two clubs for one of their players. There is now a cast list of agents, lawyers and financial people involved in this business which is also a ‘waiting game’ occupation. Tactics and valuations can change as the window starts to close. Hold your nerve time has arrived. I know many will not be convinced by this explanation, as I say, patience is very scarce when it comes to certain Celtic fans. Tant pis…
In other words…(YAWN) :-)