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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tuning in to Shortbread
some pundit says “there wont really be a title race, russel martin cannot out-football Brendan Rodgers”
sense of anti-climax for me for kick off day, only 1 fixture at 3, huns at 5, 3 tomorrow ours not till half four, and then a fixture on monday night.
Maestro on 2nd August 2025 2:20 pm
CELTIC40ME
Fergus was criticised constantly and constinrlcley of that there is doubt surely you must remember MURRAY WAS DARLING with his lapdogs and Fergus was the devil.
—————————-
dreadful day, combination of things were felt as grieviances by the support.
Fegus pig headedness over Wim Jansen leaving, and him not caring, he was ill advised to unfurl the flag. But also I recall Tom Boyd head shaking at the boos.
A bigger part of the noice came from the Irish supporters clubs, wrt the bhoys against bigotry campaign, which was perceived by them as being directed towards them.
Tough read today in particular but the mood has deteriorated in the last week.
I was privately reflecting on how quickly the new season seems to come around.
Now I can’t wait for the tangible stuff to start.
It wont shut down the noise – far from it … but the noise will at least have some competition.
Paul’s article contained this sentence.
“I cannot believe you and I have this conversation every year”
Lamentably Paul … I can believe it.
The dreaded CD you used to talk about ?
Is rife. (Here and online everywhere)
“I think this … so it is true’
“I feel this … so it is right”
“I think this so, clearly, so do ‘most people’ ”
“I feel this so, clearly, so do ‘most people’ ”
“You don’t agree with my thoughts and feelings. You even sometimes ask for evidence to substantiate my musings. You are the Sith, I am the Jedi. You must be destroyed (online, as I’ve never actually met you)”
“If you disagree with me ?
By way of rebuttal I will attribute to you thoughts, words, sentiments and stances …
… even if there is little direct evidence you thought them, said them, felt them or held them”
Yawn.
The front page headline by the Daily Record to compare the supremo with Saddam Hussein after he won the court case claim with Macari was the way the red tops operated back then with nonsense written by Traynor & Keevins to try and hound him out of the club.
Thanks POR CIERTO, ZIGGYDOC and MELVINUDALL for the TV show recommends.
Just about to give Landman another chance w Episode 3.
Do you think Fergus McCann would have bullied Wim Jansen into jumping before he was pushed if there wasn’t a season ticket trap in place?
Fergus McCann knew that David Murray had rigged the game by keeping almost all of the home gate money receipts, but instead of being honourable and getting that rule overturned, McCann couldn’t wait to get his own little tyranny underway at Parkhead
If Rodgers is so good why is he still at Celtic?
If Rodgers leaves can he take the 60,000 empty heids with him, apart from the GB who can’t be taken or the Parkhead all seated family section will be turned into a library.
All seating has created lazyism, Toryism, cliqueism, comrades my erchie-ism.
All seating had zero to do with safety, it was all about control by the Thatcher Government.
Players learn nothing from a manager who’s only solution for stuff is to buy more players.
Just look at Broony.
quadrophenian on 2nd August 2025 2:37 pm
TV SHOWS….it depends on what you like.
Landman was good, gets better by each episode.
My good wife and I are currently watching Mobland, and enjoying it.
Cheers,
Weeron
“If Rodgers is so good why is he still at Celtic?”
It’s a kind of ‘get-it-up-you’ to B78…
SpitefulbrendanCSC…
celtic40me on 2nd August 2025 2:07 pm
MAESTRO on 2ND AUGUST 2025 1:58 PM
That’s not how I remember it, it certainly didn’t feel like it that day to me. The fans were genuinely furious about Wim Jansen
*Not by me or the oul Doctor either, it may have been we were underwhelmed about him replacing TB, same with Dr Jo as if my memory serves me well we were lad to believe that Gerard Houlier was coming to us so again underwhelmed by the man who gave us Ghod and the other his only begotten son Lubo
Saint Stivs on 2nd August 2025 2:32 pm
Maestro on 2nd August 2025 2:20 pm
CELTIC40ME
dreadful day, combination of things were felt as grievances by the support. Fergus pig headedness over Wim Jansen leaving, and him not caring, he was ill advised to unfurl the flag. But also I recall Tom Boyd head shaking at the boos. A bigger part of the noise came from the Irish supporters clubs, wrt the bhoys against bigotry campaign, which was perceived by them as being directed towards them.
*which is so sad as it was the Bunnet that tried to bring the Irishness back to the club
With the league kicked off, I took a glance at the league table.
Rangers in the relegation zone already, eh?
Martin will have his work cut out.
Tex
Texas – just wait a couple of hours. Shortie will have an ‘as it stands’ table If they beat Motherwell later on.
WBC @ 2:46 that’s a cracker 👌 😃
I always remember the day Fergus got booed because I never actually saw it. I was working in the US and in those days it was virtually impossible to see us live. So I relied on updates from my mates at the game, one was using my season ticket so he was the responsible correspondent. 😄
I remember his updates, he was raging and even got into a stooshie with one of the booers.
BACK TO BASICS
‘Perception is reality’
‘We see things not as they are but as we are’
Whoever came up with these phrases was definitely onto something.
Albert Camus
https://youtube.com/shorts/_v770UA4yRg?si=BGs1EXSG_e2Z_5V6
I had been away for a month, came back and heard the wind up in the media and the hook line and sinker behaviour of some of the support. It was no surprise when the booing happened. At the time, I didn’t like it but it didn’t sound so bad. But it was clearly worse than I imagined. We are getting into that sort of silly territory again, maybe. At the same time, though, letting the board etc know we want more is no bad thing. Look at the way the hun support were on bended , uncritical, knee to their masters as they ran them out of business. They still behave that way ever in search of another sugar daddy. It’s pathetic and immature. Our campaigns against the old board have taught us well, not to let our custodians off the hook. Of course they are Celtic men. We all are. Heavy criticism should be expected and welcomed, but not abuse.
I assume the maestro will be doing the flag ceremony about 4:20 tomorrow? I’ve looked around and can’t find any timetable.
picinisco on 2nd August 2025 4:17 pm
Look at the way the hun support were on bended , uncritical, knee to their masters as they ran them out of business. They still behave that way ever in search of another sugar daddy. It’s pathetic and immature. Our campaigns against the old board have taught us well, not to let our custodians off the hook. Of course they are Celtic men. We all are. Heavy criticism should be expected and welcomed, but not abuse.
*I have been led to believe that the hun support will NEVER criticise Steptoe as to do that makes them in denial of their cheatin lyin stolen NIAR.
Saint Stivs on 2nd August 2025 1:30 pm
That was my field as well SS, in Banking and Life & Pensions. I can relate to that advice.
Looking forward to the Maestro doing the flag honours tomorrow, probably the closest I ever came to crying at the football the day he threw his top into the jungle when it looked like he was about to join Roma . Looking back with the benefit of hindsight I wish he had joined Roma as his talents deserved a much greater stage.A real Celtic great..
I think the booing of Fergus was the lowest point I have felt at Celtic Park. I wrote to him afterwards; the only time I have written to anyone at Celtic Park.
(It was made worse, if possible, as I know the lhad who was the mascot that day.)
CHAIRBHOY on 2ND AUGUST 2025 2:08 PM
EKBhoy @ 1:40 pm,
…….
A manager fighting his corner for new players is hardly new , hopefully the suits will shut their ears to the noise coming from Brendan , sign some players and everyone can calm down.
God forbid we get knocked out the CL qualifiers but from the manager’s perspective, he’s got his excuses in early…. This is the high wire act that the club knows will happen with Brendan , so maybe it’s just water off a ducks back to them and is the downside of dealing with a manager with a large ego. Still , he’d be a very hard act follow , so again hopefully all this is preseason nonsense and everything looks better by the end of the window and cl qualification
HH
timmy7_noted on 2nd August 2025 4:20 pm
I assume the maestro will be doing the flag ceremony about 4:20 tomorrow? I’ve looked around and can’t find any timetable.
i have never seen a timetable for the unfurling, but i do know to be in my seat 10 minutes before kick off if i want to see it.
it is an annual thing, have you not been before ?
HORSE RACING…Scroll by if not interested.
On this Final day of GOODWOOD I managed to bet on FIVE Winners at odds in Total, but it would have been FOUR, IF I hadnt bet on an 11/2 Winner on TWO Bookie Lines.
The best I could manage was THREE Winners on the SAME Bookie line ( LUCKY 15) at EARLY ODDS of 17/2, 4/1 and 6/4.
There were 35 Races at Goodwood over the Five Days, and I managed to bet 18 Winners ( Including the 11/2 Winner that I had backed TWICE Today.
Not too shabby I suppose ?
HH.
Indulge my mixed up head
I think Brendan has much to ponder
There is a bit of me that thinks BR should have kept the mood together
But deep down he has more balls than me
He choose to highlight the lack of support from the Board
Previously we “thought” there was a bit of a gap between BR and the Board
Now we know
So why the Gap ?
Is it as simple as
The Board – Brendan if you don’t sign a new contract we are not supporting you in the Transfer Market
OR
BR – if you dont support me in the Transfer Market I won’t sign a new contract
BR has said if you want a Manager to keep things ticking along (or words to that effect) Then I am not your man
It’s all a bit unnecessary and hopefully has no effect on the players
But how has it come to this
Is history repeating itself
Why did BR leave first time around
Did he feel supported by the Board (Peter Lawwell at the time)
Has the same situation arisen again?
PL today I believe is Non Exec Chairman
So no real impact on day to day stuff at Celtic (allegedly)
But I am sure PL will continue to have an opinion
Not sure that opinion will be positive regarding BR
I have often wondered why Paul67 was never a big fan of BR
Is it as simple as not forgiving BR for leaving first time around
How close are Paul67 and Peter Lawwell – I have no idea
But it could be suggested Paul67 has limited his praise for our boss
Is PL still “advising Michael Nicholson ?
It would be a travesty if BR has found himself in the same place he was before he left last time
All this nonsense is only MHO
I think we have the makings of a great team with a great Manager with £100m in the bank and a very well run club, we could be a really great team
Yet we find a way to jeopardize that position
I hope and pray it’s all ego and and the Board support Brendan and he signs a new contract
But there is a bit of bridge building to do before the end of August
A 5 nil win tomorrow will gladden the heart ( for a day or two anyway)
67ECW
It always amazes me how many managers attempt to play football out from the back when they don’t have the players to do it.
The new chap at Motherwell seems to be another one.
Yes since 1982.
billy dodds today on shortie – hurts me to say but Celtic will win the league
Game’s live on CBS (also Hoops tomorrow).
Huns the better side against a largely toothless Motherwell, at HT.
Saint Stivs on 2nd August 2025 2:26 pm
Could not agree more.
The champions unfurling the flag after the season is underway is a joke and disrespectful.
Especially at 16.30hrs..
Television or not , unfurling the flag should always denote the start of the season.
HH.
the bold derek ferguson,
cant help but show his didain of possession football, if a pass is on play it forward, its all about decision making.
I’ve been cooking and stuff but what I have seen Tavernier is still the best player they have.
If we ever manage to sign a right sided attacker I would expect them to eat that fanny Aaron’s. He’s murder
Motherwell having much more of the second half.
Seeing thems play it out from the back leaves me wondering if they will try that against us – they don’t have the belt it to Greg Taylor “tactic” open to them anymore.
Motherwell have come close to punishing them and Daizen certainly will if they try that.
Huns have been poor, apart from free kicks they’ve created hehaw