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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Stivs that could well be a keeper
A very balance article from P67 but while we could afford to be fairly relaxed in the last few windows, this one is different in that we, of course, need to qualify for the CL and have to announce our squad for the most important fixture in our season by August 14th, over two weeks earlier than the window itself closes.
Those two weeks could be crucial.
I fear that DD might have lost faith in BR’s ability to spot a player worth spending a lot on ( although for me Engels will come good this season).
When he signed in 2023 Rodger’s told Celtic TV no less that he “guaranteed” that he would stay for the entirety of this three-year contract. Given the circumstances of his first departure a breach of that guarantee through a voluntary exit before next year would be disastrous PR for him and DD will not have forgotten that promise.
I fear also that DD , as the de facto owner and shot caller he seems to be treated as by all the other significant shareholders and the rest of the board , will not sanction any big spends at all until either BR goes at the end of next season ( I don’t see that DD will seek to sack him before then) or , if he still retains faith in him , BR signs a contract extension.
If no contract extension is signed we might be taking a huge breath and hoping to qualify for the CL on , more or less, what we have now.
In truth , that should be achievable, even with our poor record in those games but if it comes to that I , for one , will be as nervous as a kitten.
The prospect of Thems qualifying for the CL and us failing to do so is nauseating and would be unbearable if it happened because we failed to do all we could to invest properly in a squad capable of getting us there.
While there unquestionably difficulties in getting all or , indeed , any of the players any team wants , the suggestion I’ve seen a few times today that there are 6 transfers waiting for DD sign off which isn’t forthcoming is , if true, pretty alarming to say the least.
All Brendan Rodgers has done is make it clear to the support ,that if he does leave at seasons end it will be because the board do not agree with his ambitions to grow the football side of the club to be all it can be. They can if they don’t want this plan, appoint whoever will comply with the wishes of the stale grey men.
EK Buoy,
” Bad language in your posts is embarrassing”
Sorry,EK,not half as embarrassing as reading your cap doffing ,toadying,to the Board posts.
Shameful turning a blind eye to what is transpiring at our club.
“£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”
Perhaps P67 can explain when Brendan has operated in a window which has resulted in a trading deficit 🤔
TURKEYBHOY. Aye. Resorting to holier than thou attacks on a person’s use of language is a sure sign that you’ve lost the argument, Mary Whitehouse style.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 1ST AUGUST 2025 3:52 PM
Rodgers has thrown the Board right under the bus there 🤣🤣🤣
—————
And good on him for doing so. If we do not strengthen and end up losing him, it shows exactly what the board are up to, their mindset and how they run things.
Either give BR the backing to develop the team and make progress or stand still. Pretty cut and dried tbh.
Stand still long enough to encourage a challenge from across the city. It maybe sells broadcasting packages, but it certainly won’t sell season books.
Stopped posting on here due to the hosts dislike of the manager. Shines through very clearly, as does his love for Lawwell.
Engels and Ida and Trusty,more than paid back the money we paid for them.Engels and Idah,34 goals and 18 assists between them.IDahs CL goals,and vital contribution in the 1-0 win against YBsTrustys magnificent display in Italy and part of a miserly defence domestically.All these factors helped in a massive way to our domestic double,and great showing in Europe.
Not Sheep,think for yourselves.
I hope you’re well Paul.
There are elements of your article that I agree with but unfortunately there’s a reek of, ‘board good, manager bad’.
Probably like you I watched BR’s press conference today. It’s clear, in my opinion, that the backing that he believes is needed, and I think he deserves, isn’t currently there and he’s becoming increasingly frustrated.
There’s a month to go in the transfer window but a good deal less until out CL qualifier.
P67 and Burnley 78,currently in conference to how and address this issue……and both end up blaming Brendan,que sera sera
Great show worth a listen live now
The CSP
https://www.youtube.com/live/2cszyflgET4?si=4kEQLDX1LUC3Pxrl
The out of touch board apparently threatened to ban the GB if the flag of Palastine is waved at CELTIC PARK.
What is the name of the wee man are they thinking about.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST AUGUST 2025 8:09 PM
“£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”
Perhaps P67 can explain when Brendan has operated in a window which has resulted in a trading deficit 🤔
—————
Funny how people keep throwing that about, but don’t mention Kuhn whose transfer out paid for a good chunk of that and will no doubt have a decent sell-on clause, which we seem pretty good at negotiating.
Also, I’d bet all three will at get us at least what we paid for them when/if they do go.
Selectivememoriescsc
Phil Mac sees what most of us see also…
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2025/08/01/risky-business-in-paradise/#more-37815
Oh! And Burnley78, think you need to have a word with your source re Brendan’s contract offer.
Put that one to bed!
😂😂😂
GlassTwoThirdsFull @ 1:32 pm,
“At the end of July 2021, however, only Kyogo, Abada and Giakoumakis had been signed”
——————–
Trying to cast my mind back to how our CL qualifiers went that year. Anyone remember…….
Yes….
That was a very curious example
Preseason match at Celtic Park v West Ham, men against boys
Our first six league games of the season
Pld 6 W 3 L 3 beaten by R2ngers.
Our European campaign, out of the UCL into the Europa, out of the Europa into the Conference, knocked out of the Conference.
The first and due to the change of format probably the last to go out of all three in a season.
Don’t get me wrong, not a criticism of the CEO, manager, players or staff – they had a heck of a rebuild on their hands but hardly an advert for flaffing around in the transfer window
Hail Hail
Sad day when posters condone the use of the word that rhymes with manky being used to describe a fellow poster’s comment.
Kelvinbhoy
Agree mate , blog not Celtic minded today.🍀
Jesus it’s 2025
Swearies as you call them. Defines your “Celtcness” ? Get a grip.
Watched Brendan’s interview with Sly Sports.
Nothing in it for me.
A manager saying managers want players more than boards want to pay for them.
Radical … not
I am not on here often but it was worth it tonight to see the name HAMILTONTIM appear!
Hope you are well, Sir!
Get yourself along to the Shipbank on Shipwreck day!
It would be fun!
Chairbhoy
Indeed – some mess to clean up and definitely not an undertaking you would be wanting to do every year! But very strange for a CL qualification failure year to be highlighted as some kind of “template” .
Just thinking – did Shaw and Urgohide not come in quite early in that window? Wonder why they weren’t mentioned…..?
HAMILTONTIM
Good to see your name bud.hope you are well. HH
Good night you fractious old duffers. 👍😴
You just have to shake your head in disbelief at some on here.A total shambles going on at our club,and their big worry,somebody said a sweary word.
Its men talking passionately about the team they love being systematically weakened.Its not a fekin women’s sewing bee.
Peter Lawwell did spend every penny that came into the club , a fair bit of it on his own remuneration .I feel and dread that we are heading towards another period of civil war and I can’t understand why We have a huge bank balance and seem scared to spend any of it for some unknown reason.I would nmbe interested to know when Celtic last had a net spend on a transfer window , its not something that happens often.
You would struggle to meet a better Celt than Hamiltontim
It all leaves us wrastling with two seemingly conflicting notions or ideas.
1) Our executive run a financial model for the club which has been undeniably profitable and has helped us securely dominate the domestic game.
2) Our elite manager wants to – and has been backed to – push us on to more ambitious success overseas and while requesting heftier backing has also hinted that if the club just wants to maintain the home-based status quo, he’ll not be incentivised to hang about for that game of sodjers.
I guess there’s two weeks to see how the flipped coin will land eh?
FalseDilemmas CSC ?
BTW: We’re trying to watch the recommended Landman but while it’s brilliantly shot, the script is more wooden than Gepetto’s kid.
CHAIRBHOY on 1ST AUGUST 2025 7:32 PM
BSR @ 4:26 pm,
Excellent post and some great points…
Just one thing, you stated the Club needs a total transformation, now it depends what exactly you mean by that, however Celtic F C to my way of thinking are doing quite a lot right.
They are however being starved of funds and obviously that impacts that great work.
My feeling is it is definitely the Celtic PLC that needs a transformation and a radical one at that, as a vehicle it is not even close to being fit for purpose.
Hail Hail
——————————————-
Read back what I posted yesterday, a bit knee jerky, probably because we’re like a lot of Celtic supporters, fanatical and emotionally engrossed.
The transformation root and branch change needs to happen from the top, even though we are thriving as a business, as stated. The foundation and basis is there, but mistrust of authority, ( the board ) is in our DNA or at least it ought to be, for some mistrusting manifested itself in 2012, and the aftermath. You much much more about the PLC aspect, than I do.
The man in the street sees rising prices, and apparently frozen low transfer fees inwards and another £25M in, so far at least in this window. Brendan Rodgers see gaps in his playing squad and tells the supporters, he definitely didn’t need anybody on CQN or anywhere else to tell him, they were there.
Good shout on starvation of funds, we don’t know (but we’ve a good idea ) why the recruitment team process at the moment seems to favour low end type fees which IMO pitch us in with the only other show in town, who can do the same. Loan signing with no option to buy, isn’t a good look never mind a great idea. ( hope he’s a success ) Who tells the recruitment team to take into account TransferMarket.Com? and player valuations of a certain limit, If they don’t, how come the players are all cheap or of a development variety. Caveat being, who knows what’s to come in this window alone, or as Bada Bing suggests the Daizen Maeda or Reo Hatate sale might be a tipping point.
I don’t think Brendan has cracked the recruitment conundrum in either of his spells at Celtic, nobody has, and his loose remit doesn’t allow it, when it’s at face value at least – win the league, and do better in Europe. That’s what the major shareholder asks him to do, and the board get on with starving or feeding Brendan his wants and needs.
It was painful watching that video and he said, not verbatim but in more depth exactly what he did the first time round, pure John McGinngate, he was like a supporter, and I actually found it quite sad . His label as a ‘chequebook manager’ is bigger than his value to all the players as the brilliant coach
he is.
It’s still the board that need to upcycle at Celtic, nobody wins forever but surely they want give it another try?
Enjoy the match CSC
50,000+ sat on their fat plastic seat shaped arses, tut, tut, tut, tut, tut, tutting away, at the neanderthals and whatever else passes as cafe latte lingo, when the Green Brigade were banned last year, silently cheering inside themselves…..then bang, 7 points quickly dropped and the imperialist kowtowers had to bend the knee and, sleekitly up a dark alley way, ask the Green Brigade to come back in to the 60,000 all seated family section library, and inject some life back into the place as Brendan and his team couldn’t get the tempo going without the backing noise.
The club is pretentious at best, no solidarity to the most important player at the club, the Green Brigade, no solidarity from Rodgers, who’ll pose for pics with Connor McGregor only weeks ago, but the GB is a step too far for Rodgers.
Toryism right there!
The club needs to be financially drained, then the board honourably resign and leave, or Tims will have to citizens arrest them out of the front door, a few hundred, maybe 1,000 of militant Tims[all wearing Joker masks] who want the lobby owned merchants out of Parkhead.
Any Tim wearing Adidas clothing whilst waving a Palestinian flag should also be citizen arrested for embarrassing the hoops.
Money Money Money – Will destroy Celtic, no amount will ever be enough.
Greed Greed Greed is now the creed.
A player isn’t in the door 5 minutes and all we want to do is sell him, to give more money to those who least deserve it.
The delayed ban on the GB is an indication from the board that help will be on the way for the Huns from their old pals.
Use the GB’s backing to get away ahead in the league, then ban the GB, so the Huns can catch up, maybe bite our asses off whilst their at it.
Hmmmmm I smell a plan in the oven…..hmmmmmm.
Charlie Nicholas was correct all those years ago when he said:
“Celtic are no longer a football club, they are now just a rich man’s play thing whenever he can be bothered.”
Quadrophenian at 11:52
I made through one episode of Landman but it was too much cliche and not that interesting for me also.
Didn’t go back.
TEXASTIM: we watched x2 episodes but yep, it is all a bit hackneyed.
Finding a new series that’s up there with BreakingBad, Gomorrah or The Wire aint easy.
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!).
Someone at the club must have Mark Lawwell’s number. He knows how to make a £20 million dent in our funds. No problem.
Quad – try 1923 if you haven’t.
Same writers as Landman but for me,
better drama. Breaking bad takes some beating.
Sensible balanced view of where Celtic are at Paul67. It will never catch on. Thankfully we have a board who know how to trade players so that we can attract young talent to the backwaters of Europe. The one or three first ready players to come in will help the squad develop and we can look forward to a great season ahead.
HamiltonTim – Great to see your name pop up.
Paul67 – Struggling to find anything in the leader that I don’t agree with. Looking forward to seeing the Bhoys in real action Sunday. The club is in good hands – all around.
Haven’t read anything that means more than a boss wanting as much as he can get from his boss.
Calm the fcuk down bedwetters, we’re all in this together, one way or another.
Ave Ave
Post Scriptum
https://youtu.be/iGpb2fOguwg?si=RtlyQyRK_k1hOugA