On practically all measures the club has had a less successful 2013 than 2012 but I’m going to give you a positive State of the Club Report today. 2013 gave us one critical achievement, qualification for the group stage of the Champions League. Winning the league title is, of course, critical for most ambitious clubs, but at Celtic it has become a bit like putting your socks on; it’s something we do as a matter of course.
Overcoming Elfsborg and Shakhter Karagandy was a lot more difficult than it should have been. They are to us what we are to teams at the top of La Liga or Serie A, but our superior resources eventually held good. You get a sense from recent comments by Neil Lennon and Johan Mjallby that the realisation we need to shop at least one transfer window in advance of the period we need players to be effective has dawned.
Next season’s qualifiers will, in all probability, be more challenging, so the hard work necessary to ensure a high probability of a successful outcome should already be underway.
Performance at this season’s group stage was ultimately disappointing after a promising start. We held our own for 80 minutes away to Milan, looking as comfortably as we have been away to a top Spanish or Italian club in 30 years. Conceding two late goals felt harsh. Defeat at home to Barcelona was frustrating. The plan worked perfectly while the game was 11 v 11 and even when we were reduced to 10 men we still had a chance to take the lead, but Barca were hot favourites from the moment Scott Brown flicked out at Neymar. We missed Brown’s influence hugely over the next three CL games.
A tactically impeccable performance at home to Ajax but some points on the board but the three remaining games, away to Ajax and Barcelona, and home to Milan, were abject. It was like all our accumulated wisdom of how to compete in this tournament was lost. The Milan game at Celtic Park was particularly disappointing as it mirrored the manner and score of the defeat to Juventus earlier this year. No lessons were learned.
When Teemu Pukki cheerfully told us he would bring pace and strength to the Celtic attack, but not a bundle of goals, there was a ripple of concern across the support. In Europe, we can often only afford one striker, so he needs to be the type of will look away but have the ball bounce off his bum and into the net.
Recruiting a player who possesses this talent and can successfully deploy it on the Champions League, while he does his weekend business in the SPFL, has proven to be the key challenge for the football department. It’s not easy, but it’s certainly not impossible. We know the issue, we have time and money in the bank, so I don’t see why we can’t find a solution.
2013 was not a time of harmony for the Celtic support. Amid vandalism, flares and multiple Uefa fines Celtic banned fans and donated seats in section 111 to charity. We are 10 years after the Fifa and Uefa Fair Play awards. The road back to those times will not be easy but there is a road back.
In early 2012 I appeared on Radio Scotland, where James Traynor insisted that Celtic were doomed if the SPL clubs refused to allow Newco Rangers elevated access to top flight football. I told him the overwhelming consensus on Celtic Quick News was that we were prepared to pay the price to ensure new clubs start at the bottom of the league pyramid. If it meant more youth players, fewer fans, less effective European competition, so be it.
The predictions of doom were largely misplaced. Celtic have not only been able to reach the Champions League group stage, twice in succession. My money is on them qualifying again next year, while season ticket sales in excess of 40,000 is exceptionally robust in the circumstances.
It was almost exactly nine years ago that I suggested the start of the Martin O’Neill era would herald a Generation of Domination, as Sir David Murray’s financial recklessness would lead to Rangers collapse. Now the only questions is, how many generations are we talking about? None of what has happened since is a surprise. Our progress on the field will not be linear, it never was, but it is assured.
Have a great New Year, you deserve it.
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DV on drums!
Burghbhoy,
Hope that lorry wisnae headin for Winchburgh..
Approached the new year
Approached the border town.
DD,
Ye better hurry ye have two minutes for the Mounty..
HAPPY NEW YEAR, CQN …………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only an excuse done as good as past years ,trying to make best out of a bad situation.
Glasgow Central has a lovely big picture as you come of the train ,Celtic fan sevco fan shaking hand’s .sort of like the singing i am not a billy hes a tim sketch ..
D
Happy new year
There were men from Dublin & from Cork
Happy New Year to you Paul67 and all on CQN
Here’s to more league and cup success in 2014
HH
Scotland Free in 2014
Happy new year…..
KATANGA 2014
Happy CQNew Year everyone.
Try again.
A very happy new year to all.
I’ve got a feeling this year’s for me and you.
HAIL HAIL
VincerÒ! VincerÒ! VincerÒ!
Hail Hail to all Bhoys and Ghirls
to paul 67 and all who make c.q.n. the best bar none
2014 will be :
http://youtu.be/2YPoelz0JnM
HAIL HAIL
A guid New Yea to yin and aw. Yer no awa teh bide awa.
Beyoncé
Happy New Year tae yin an’ aw
Happy new year to all the celtic family where ever they me be ,Especially if for any reason you find yourself alone at this time.
Seen on face book whan the bells ring raise your left leg that way you will start the year off on the right foot.
Lang may yer lums reek as ma auld da used to say.
God I miss him
To those that have lost loved ones be all you can be and make them proud.
distant dream we could all dream of ,..happy new year too all of scotland
Happy New Year Timland.
Wishing all Celtic fans nothing but health and happiness
in the new year……get yourselves along to CP tomorrow
if you can too watch a bigot free Glasgow derby.
To Paul. And all CQNers. I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year
TCR
The lorry would be welcome in the Burgh son !!
Happy new year to u and all CQNers
Happy New Year to us all.
Oh well…last post of 2013…..what a shoite year anyway.
All the best for 2014.
Hail Hail
Frankie Miller – when I’m away from you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GiCtvne1l8
Happy New Year everyone..
thanks again Paul for this wonderful meeting place…
HH
Happy new year to all Celtic supporters wherever you happen to be in the world. Hope 2014 brings you everything you are hoping for.
Happy New Year each and everyone of the Celtic family.
Happy New Year to everyone from me, Wee BGFC and Miss BGFC.
Me and the wee mhan looking forward to his first ever derby later today – come on the Hoops!!!!
HAIL, HAIL
BGFC
Thank the lord the mighty Mo is back
Happy nooo year CQNers
From the Lennybhoy Clan we wish each and every one of you and yours a prosperous and peaceful 2014.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Frankie Miller If you need me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ulgrkABpec