I read one highly unlikely article yesterday suggesting we were going to sign Alfred Finnbogason AND were still bidding big money for Kevin Doyle ahead of an 11pm tonight signing deadline. It’s hard to be so wrong in so few words, but this one hit the mark.
Alfred is a target but, and this is the key point the newspapers have not picked up on, he is one of four strikers Celtic are seriously considering at the moment. He looks the part, as do the others, I am assured, but the deal has to be right for Celtic to move.
Our strategic plan is to buy players at a comparatively low price, develop them on the Champions League stage, and sell high, in order to be able to build a team capable of competing further in the Champions League.
To do this we need to buy from the right markets, at the correct age and on the right wage. There will be exceptions to this rule. A few weeks shy of his 27th birthday, Dirk Boerrigter is unlikely to appreciate greatly, but teams need experience to tackle the Champions League, as well as some specific skills, so Dirk is here for what he can give today, not to be the next £12m exit.
We will see more business like Wanyama and Hooper. Before Celtic agree a deal for Finnbogason there would need to be a gap between the buy price and the projected valuation IF the player is a success. If this gap doesn’t exist we will do business elsewhere. Sticking to strategy is more important than pursuing a target like some latter-day David “this time we’re really going for it” Murray.
You can also forget about the 11pm deadline tonight. That is only relevant if we need two or more new players to overcome Shakhter Karagandy. If we want to add Finnbogason, or any ONE other player, the deadline for a Wildcard signing is a day before the game, or pretty much when the team leaves Glasgow Airport, so there is no effective deadline tonight. As such, I would be surprised if a deal was concluded today.
Right now, at Lennoxtown and Celtic Park, people are deciding how to invest our money. We have the kind of choices consistent with a well-run club, but while we are a well-run club, we can’t get caught up in the hubris.
We are living through some big changes in our financial model. Revenue from domestic football (season ticket sales-now discounted, Rangers game £42-per-head ticket sales, hospitality sales, commercial income) has fallen, or disappeared completely (I reckon we’re in the region of £9m p.a. down in these areas, we’ll have a better indication when accounts are released later this month). On top of this, the club was running at a loss without Champions League football or significant player sale (£7m for season 2011-12, the last we have accounts for), and as well as some income streams falling, costs have risen.
I heard that one ‘St Mirren’ supporting journo on Radio Scotland on Saturday said with last season’s Champions League income and money from player sales, Celtic have a £40m transfer kitty.
In the name of all that is sacred, nine years after ‘What the Celtic fans want to know is where is all the Seville money?’, the same nonsense is being peddled. As far as some are concerned, we are back where we started on CQN. The first thing you do with your money is pay your bills, including tax… there is no creditor left behind at Celtic. After they are taken care off you can look to invest in footballers.
This year, the underlying loss has been flipped because of player sales and that Champions League income, although not by nearly as much as journos who regard researching accounts before commenting on finance as an unnecessary indulgence, will tell you. Without Champions League income (this season potentially £14m plus any prize money earned), the money from Wanyama alone would not make this a profitable season, even before the spend on our new signings.
The road ahead is clear. Get into the Champions League as often as possible without allowing any individual failure to cause a collapse, sign players who will flourish at that level, sell them for a profit, repeat and reinforce all aspects of strategy with an improved budget.
Over any business period, every penny which comes into the club, has been, and will continue to be, spent. Our money will be invested in footballers who will appreciate in value, and who will give Celtic their best chance of pushing further in the Champions League on a persistent basis. It will not rest in a bank account earning a pittance in interest. The strategy is ambitious and sustainable but not reckless.
A year ago some wondered if Celtic could survive, never mind flourish, without a Rangers-branded club in the league. If successful, this strategy will not only allow the club to flourish, it may even result in higher long-term income than Celtic achieved while locked in an arms race with a former rival, with a corresponding improvement in Champions League achievement.
Is Alfred Finnbogason the man, is he better than the others we’re looking at, good enough to excel in the Champions League? I’ve no idea, but he is just one detail in the wider Celtic strategy.
Stick to plan, Celtic.
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Last Icelandic players were Teddy Bjarnnason & the other Finnbogason (Kjartan) who both were fringe players after coming through the youth ranks.
Key part of question was “Icelandic player to star for Celtic”.
Johannes Edvaldson.
FLEAGLE1888
I demand a recount. My horse was winning until some p…k in the bookies shouted it on.
Caught on the nod by that spawny git 16 ROADS no-hoper.
And he had the cheek to crow about it too.
Well,we’ll see who’s laughing on 28/9 after I’ve got him blootered.
And dipped his pocket for his winning betting slips.
(Just to see what one looks like,obviously-ffs,I’m not a hun!)
The proof of a strikers value is not in his price tag but in the frequency of the balls that hit the back of the net…
Deliver us a new Hero please Pedro…
Great article Paul. After the performance of the young players against Liverpool and the great result for the u17 against Man City yesterday it proves that our youth development is coming along fine. I wonder how many of your readers know that 40% of the proceeds of Celtic Pools and Paradise Windfall go to CFC Development Fund Ltd, so I would appeal to any Celtic fan living in Scotland, England, Wales and Norn Ireland to join. You can join by taking out a direct debit, it cost £1 per week to join the Celtic Pools. To find out how to join click on to Celtic fc.net and click on to pools.
Sir David Murray set to make sensational return as chairman of Scottish 3rd division champions Rangers
By Hugh Keevins 01:30 GMT, 12 August 2013
Sir David Murray today announced he is to return again to the Rangers board as director and chairman of Rangers.
Murray said: ‘For the last 2 years I have been looking in on the club on an almost daily basis and I think that now is the right time to step back in and take full control.’
‘I have said many times that being the chairman of Rangers is not something anyone should do forever and I still have personal and business interests outside but Rangers is my first love and the people need me right now.’
‘As things stand, I can buy Rangers back for three pounds seventy one pence and although Craig can be a bit of a a rogue he is a gentleman and I fully expect that deal to be signed with a handshake and it to be realised. That´s not an issue. What is an issue is getting us back to where we belong. The fans deserve better’
Murray continued: ‘There have been so many great moments to savour in the past and the current hullabaloo will not be allowed to continue.’
‘I will get Campbell, Alex, Walter and Mr. Doncaster around a table with Dave King and inform them of what will be happening. We have all agreed that this erosion has went on for long enough’
‘I would also like to salute the countless Rangers fans around the world who have shown unwavering support for the club, week in week out.
‘They are the lifeblood of Rangers and many clubs would dearly like to have such a great support.
‘I will no longer accept my name being sullied by any old Pat Mick or Harry’
Following Murray’s announcement, Brian Stockbridge said ‘it was considering proposals to formally recognise his recently made bid which does not actually involve any equity’
Stockbridge continued ‘This is truly a remarkable deal and demonstrates how Sir David Murray is still one of Britains great entrepeneurs. I cannot divulge any details due to Stock Market regulations and confidentiality but everyone can now stop worrying thanks to Sir David’
The club has issued via its website a 5% decrease in new season ticket updates
I have seen footage of Alfred Finnbogason and am mightily impressed. He does seem to offer all the attributes and ability that a real top striker needs. And with him being just 24 years old there is plenty of potential for his value to increase significantly if he can display the same effectiveness in the CL as he has done in the Eredivisie.
The key questions for me are:
Are we more or less likely to qualify for the CL group stage with him in The Hoops?
Will we make more than £5M from qualifying for the CL group stage?
Will he be worth more than £5M if he showcases his talent in the CL?
If we don’t invest in improving our chances of qualifying for the CL (long term), then we probably won’t qualify… and we won’t then be able to afford to improve the team. It’s a vicious circle.
Of course, buying Finnbogason (or anyone else) doesn’t guarantee that they will deliver what we hope, but without giving him the chance, how will we ever know? And let’s face it, the Finnbogason footage on YouTube looks far more impressive than that of Amido Balde!
And at the end of the day, I think that (£5M rated) Finnbogason will deliver a far greater tangible benefit to Celtic than (£12.5M rated) Victor Wanyama.
Goals secure victories
Victories secure trophies
Trophies secure ££££££
…and success breeds success.
SOT
Same Shuggie
RalphWaldo
Well spotted
Awe Naw
It’s all about timing – Hugh Keevans 13.30?
SOT – Mark Viduka?
Well Hello Chaps!
I was aregular poster on here, known as “PlatoWasaTim” and was a member as the gang of posters known as “the aul Hauns”! I believe the esteemed don’tbrattbackinanger” was a member!
Anyhoo, I have emerged from the Platcave and will be relaunching the “Kerrang CSC”.Mr Brattback was President of said CSC back in the day.
Since I’m back, I’m just looking for a catch up. Anything happen while I was away?
KERRANG CSC – PLAY IT LOUD – STRONG ARM OF THE LAW!!
Thanks Paul for a great article. I wish that everyone could see the point you are making. Even if we signed Lionel Messi, there is no guarantee that we would qualify or the CL group stage. All it needs is one bad decision or a bad tackle for that to happen. Look at Bate Borisov!
The club’s nightmare scenario is for us to be burdened with a massive wage bill and no planned income to pay for it, a la oldco.
Favorite Rangers ?
The Rangers Jerk Crew .
Saw them doing some mighty fine hip hop moves on a Compton street corner .
Dear MSM,
Let’s be perfectly frank, Sevco never ever ever did have £22M to start off with – did they?
SOT…
Q1: Zheng Zhi (the Chinese Shuggy).
Q2: Zheng Zhi.
Paul67
A sobering but realistic assessment of the financial environment we operate in and the strategy required to prosper.
I would add that we can’t just rely on buying and selling well. Lennoxtown must also play a key role through the development of our youth squad into first team regulars capable of playing at a higher level. Saturday’s game showed that we may have a few stars of the future.
The final challenge for NFL and his staff is to deliver a winning team, playing exciting football and consistently doing well in Europe in order to motivate the fans to turn up.
It’s not easy given the continual change in personnel this strategy requires but so far so good.
HH
Excellent article, Paul.
Qualification for the group stages of the CL is obviously hugely important for the foreseeable future. It worries me that players aren’t going to get much rest between the end of one season and the start of the next. That will ultimately take its toll later in the season.
It’s bad enough when there’s no World Cup or Euro finals. That obviously doesn’t affect any of our Scottish internationalists but the foreign players who play for competent international sides could find themselves going for years without a decent break for as long as we have to play three rounds of qualifying ties.
Platmeister – your return has made my day, oh! tin eared tormentor of mine.
Hope you are well.
And no,nothing has happened since we sent you into the Platcave to change a lightbulb.
Ive been catching up on Billy No Wells Desert Island Tims on hail hail media.
Listened to Mr P67 , very interesting to understand how CQN came about, and evolution since then, well done sir, we share many memories of the same games. Airdrie 75 indeed.
But his one with Stephen McGhee, Tetraplegicbhoy, is a really great insight into the young mans life and his accident. Well done , especially on sharing the “I needed Celtic” explanations.
http://www.spreaker.com/page#!/user/billynowell/desert_island_tims_with_stephen_mcghee
Oglach
Sounds to me like you are advocating a Wow signing.
That is so Oldco.
Robbie Keane, Roy Keane, Craig Bellamy.
Where are the shirts with their names on them now?
None of the players who became heroes for Celtic were ever Wow signings.
I repeat none.
Larsson, Sutton, Hartson, Lennon, Moravcik all came to us either with some baggage or something to prove and often to the background of sniggering from England and the Scottish MSM.
To underline the point Paul makes, three of those players cost Celtic 6 million and we got nothing for them when we sold them. The other two left with no fee for Celtic either.
What puts consistently bums on seats is not wow signings but success at the right level – Champions League in this case.
HH
Twisty
Goninodaethat.
Mr Goldie reckons it will follow up today, working mans price, usual rules apply.
Go easy.
Here is the latest from Prav…eh BBC Scotland:
12th August 2013
Dear
Freedom of Information request – RFI20131096
Thank you for your request to the BBC of 28 July, 2013, seeking the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:
I wish to ascertain the extent and nature of the employment external PR Consultants by BBC Scotland in 2011.
Can you point me to the appropriate portal for such a request and give me any other information you may think useful?
BBC Scotland does not employ external PR consultants.
We have recently received a number of enquiries about communications with PR agency Media House, around the time of the 2011 Scottish Cup Final. In responses to those enquiries we have noted the following.
BBC Scotland Sports staff did not hold or attend any meetings with Media House or enter into any discussions with Media House, either before or after the 2011 Scottish Cup Final.
Media House did facilitate an interview with former Rangers’ player, Sandy Jardine, for possible inclusion within the BBC Scotland News documentary Bombs, Bigotry and Football, which was broadcast on BBC One Scotland on Wednesday 18 May 2011 and which examined the impact of sectarianism on Scottish football and society.
To inform the contents of the documentary, the documentary investigations team spoke to Strathclyde Police about definitions of sectarian chants and songs. No such enquiries were made of Media House. The full editorial responsibility for BBC Scotland programmes and content lies entirely with BBC Scotland and is not influenced in any way by any external party or parties.
Appeal Rights
If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior manager or legal adviser. Please contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us to review and including your reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. The contact details are: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 01625 545 700 or see http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Yours sincerely,
Ian Small
Head of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs
BBC Scotland
.
67 heaven
No need to worry about me. I’m totally on message about the strategy. I JUST WANT FINNBOGASSON !!!!!!!! Hee!hee!hee! Er …… Sorry for shouting.
Favorite Rangers?
http://www.wrenthorperangers.org/
My personal Favorites
Eðvaldsson’s father Evald Mikson was a former Estonian international goalkeeper in the 1930s, who was later Deputy Head of the Tallinn Police during the Nazi occupation. Accused of war crimes, Mikson fled Estonia at the end of World War II, eventually alighting in Iceland where he settled and raised a family, changing his name to the Icelandic Eðvald Hinriksson.[1]
Eðvaldsson’s brother Atli, seven years his junior, is also a former international footballer, who was for a period Iceland’s record cap holder. Atli Eðvaldsson played most of his career in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Uerdingen and Fortuna Düsseldorf before moving into coaching. He managed the Icelandic national side between 2000 and 2003.[1]
———————-
ps whats the share price for 2nd rangers today.
pps. favorite Rangers, those ones that round up the cattle. or is that Wranglers
i am allways getting my cowboys mixed up.
Che
I got word for Burnwynd Boy in the same race
WITS
the first sensible thing youve said for weeks :¬)
As regards to FC Shakhter Karagandy
I’ve read on Wikipedia that St Patricks Athletic
knocked this same team out of the Europa League
Qualifier in Season 2011/2012 (2nd Round)
FC Shakhter Karagandy play in Home kit
Orange Tops & Black Shorts & Their Away
Kit is White Tops & Black Shorts.
So no panic buying please? After all it takes time
for new players to bed in to our playing system
Also, some of the names like Kevin Doyle the
Icelander & So on do not excite me are they
going to be an quick success? I think not.
We should look @ bringing players in on Loan
to see if they are worth a punt/expenditure
After all one has to box clever nowadays in
the so called Transfer Market.
The LuxCelt made a few good suggestions
in players who we should be monitoring from
the Belgium Club FC Genk was the Club
he mentioned particularly their Striker who
he reckons scores one goal in every two matches
which is a good ratio so I reckon said Striker along
with the Midfield Player LuxCelt mentioned & Also
the Central Defender is worth some thorough
Research
I also think in my opinion, that the Young Boy
Fisher looks like he has good potential
He played well against BMG & Liverpool when
he was tested @ the Back.
Also, the young Bhoy Finlay looks like he has got
good potential as well.
By the way, the FC Shakhter Karagandy Home
Match Tickets are now on sale priced £20 for
Normal Adults Seats.
I picked mine up, earlier today.
Favourite Rangers?
Berwick Rangers1967 Ya beauty
parsimony for all …except those who get paid excessive bonuses…
frankly ,i`ll never understand why selling your best players and not adquately replacing them improves your team…
BMCUP
Now if we had a benchmark which told us that in relation to the economy as a whole £4m is turgid, then there would be a cast iron case for stating PL’s bonus was too high or (gasp) too low if such an indicator said we should really be £6m down.
In the absence of such the judgement becomes subjective.
I would rather the bonus formula was well understood and showed how all the factors affecting it produced the result it does, but in the absence of that information and on the generally held perception that Celtic are steering a secure course through difficult waters I prefer either not to judge or give the subject of the judgement the benefit of the doubt.
Why two weeks ago I was thinking Balde was a mistake. Now, with a bit more evidence, I’m not so sure.
Hi Paul67,
Haven’t posted in donkey’s years but felt compelled today as I thought the blog was absolutely spot on. However, the fact that x amount of years after kicking this great blog off you are still having to make this point must frustrate the hell out of you.
I think the board, in the main, have operated brillantly in an utterly depressed market where the nearest neighbour (EPL) flouts its increasing wealth without sign of the bubble bursting. The cost of our projects will clearly mean a lot of frogs need kissed and when a league 1 player commands an 8m fee, and 20 million gets you an average one then what we go after is a massive uphill task.
I continue to enjoy immensely the blessing of being a celtic fan, accept the imperfections we operate wtihin and we should enjoy these good times while they last.
Finally there is a guy posting here today who was on the blog the day I packed it in and went lurking. He’ll not remember and I wish I’d kept it but he berated the acquisition of another doomed project called Victor Wanyama :)
Mon the hoops
Big Wavy
If we sign Finnbogason, his value will double in the first year and triple in the second year, that’s within our policy is it not?
Oh and what happened to the Dublin money?,
gsu
DBBIA
How are ye doin’, me ole interweb mucker!!
Glad you haven’t forgotten your tin eared tormentor!!
Are you still listening to the ole Lost Planet Airmen, or the even the ole Reverned Al??
What’s happened to Noel90 and Supercelt? Are they still lost in the ole interweb ether, in which I was recently inhabiting?
That lightbulb gig you gave me to undertake, was very complicated, you know!!
Philbhoy @ 12:18,
We must improve, going beyond the last sixteen must be a feasible possibility, as many of the huge Clubs have proven over the Seasons it can’t be guaranteed but we should have a squad capable of reaching that position.
If we get dumped out before then we should be able to go on a significant Europa run, I believe if we played Liverpool in Dublin in the aftermath of Seville our support could have taken half the Aviva.
We must take a prudent approach but success in Europe will give us undefinable benefits, it’s our only grwoth area IMO.
We’re not too far off.
Hail Hail
DBBIA .
No ———
But he is the answer to the question —-
Which former Celtic player gets a mighty big up in a football song which is based on Leonard Cohen’ s Hallelujah. ——–
Favourites
– always
WITS
Reverse forecast it is then… Id have put RFC but.
Good luck either way.