Back in 2011 a campaign was launched by Craig Whyte (subsequently adopted by others) to convince Scottish Premier League clubs that Rangers were necessary for their survival, and in the event of a liquidation event, the league should invite a phoenix club into the top flight.
The people at Celtic became aware of this and after the initial revulsion that a team, who at that stage were three-in-a-row champions, could liquidate, then phoenix with the same players and income streams, but without the debts associated with building the playing squad, they ran the numbers. They asked themselves the question, could we survive without Rangers?
The answer was straightforward, if we can’t survive without Rangers we’re as well not surviving at all. We needed a strategy which would cope with the drop in income, the lack of domestic competition, but still deliver Champions League competition. Easy, right?
Not easy but by no means impossible.
Celtic were running at an operational loss without selling players or getting into the Champions League group stage. That season (2011-12), in reaching the Europa League group stage, we made a £7m loss (mitigated by a later player sale). The subsequent drop in season ticket sales in a league without Rangers (it happened), drop in associated commercial and match-day ticket sales cost around £5m. Dropping the price of season tickets by £100 this season arrested the decline in sales, but brought in £4m less than last season.
To balance this, we qualified for the Champions League group stage last season and this, sold £20m worth of talent this summer (and have spent £6m so far on new arrivals).
We have something practically unique in football, a sustainable strategy which is also successful.
Is it without its risks? No.
Will it tax the team and manager, even against teams like Elfsborg and Shakhter? Yes.
Is it as good a strategy as we could have? That is a matter of opinion but results on the park are the only place that matters.
We’ve made lots of decisions so far this summer. Selling Hooper, Wanyama and Wilson, while bringing in van Dijk, Derk Boerrigter, Balde and Mouyokolo, before getting to this stage. Would Norwich and Southampton have waited or signed alternatives, leaving us with rapidly depreciating assets?
I’ve no idea, but these are the kind of factors which contribute to each decision.
You can play your hand cautiously, hold the players, risking buyers leave the market, or sign more players early, on the basis that they are available and you are prepared to pay the asking price, irrespective of your valuation. You can certainly give yourself an easier ride by taking decisions against strategy based on pressure.
This would not guarantee success (nothing does) but it would further mitigate the risk of failure, however, it would potentially leave fewer resources to build a team which can reach further still.
We played a more ambitious hand. Strategy was adhered to, which looked a folly, to some, a week ago.
For the first time in 40 years we have a sustainable, successful, team development strategy, which is only just beginning to bear fruit. It is too tempting to take those fruits and blow them on the same strategy most of our UK-based peers do in an attempt to guarantee entry to the promised land.
Faith in the squad, manager and scouts was rewarded. Whether you like it or not, we have one of the best development strategies in football. Well done, Celtic.
Neil Lennon is an ambitious man but if he thinks he can stem the “disgusting” “hysterical” reaction to a Celtic defeat he is overreaching. Some will learn but others will have rationalised their reaction within a second of the manager’s comments being made. ‘Tis the nature of the beast.
Well done to everyone who attended last night. The place wasn’t full but there is something about a Celtic Park crowd of around that size which seems more effective than when we’re crammed in.
Enjoy being a Celtic supporter.
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Weeminger:
For arguments sake, lets take the huns out of the equation, since they’re deceased, and assume the figures are constant over the past couple of years, do those figures then equate to bang for buck in your eyes?
Celt for life
Chelsea is the last team I would want in the draw.the zombies would be out in force.The streets would be a dangerous place to be walking about in.
yorkbhoy
12:43 on
29 August, 2013
Beauty,mate.
Superb to hear a Scottish accent sharing our joy.
Can’t argue with that Paul, however when mistakes are made we should still be allowed to air our grievances without the fear of being cyber slapped around the coupon. That is how a loving adult relationship should work!
Any how forget all that as i’ve got the washing, ironing, beds to change, dog to walk, kids to pick up fae school all so that I can get access to the remote control to watch the CL draw as the breadknifes watching Jeremy Kyle then Judge Judy in between naps on the couch…
Thank you again Celtic for making this Bhoy one happy camper & lifting the mood in this house after last week, Cheers.
Hope you enjoyed that Wee Oscar
Coming dear CSC
Awe Naw – I agree entirely with your opening sentence, but that’s also why I didn’t agree with your previous “Old Firm” mindset comments.
The Huns died and the tribute act playing across the city are an absolute irrelevance to us. Battle won.
We now need to rip up the governance of the game in this country and build the integrity you mentioned. If that’s achieved, then our supporters would be more willing to support the development of the overall game in Scotland.
The best way yo go about it? That’s another story….!
T4
Don’t want any English teams, don’t want any of the usual suspects (Barca, Milan, Benfica). Other than that, don’t care.
From a chance to qualify/good trips for fans
Porto, Marseilles, Leverkusen
or
Porto, Schalke, Ajax
PF.
He has no time for the uncle tim or any of the uncle tins for that matter…
He may well flee to adeje seeking your advice. ..
Tend to like Richard Gordon on Bbc. He’s, I think, pretty fair and balanced.
Just listened to the podcast and my initial thoughts were Lenny was truly p**sed off with ITV and the negativity coming from the media but on asking for help I heard this as a real go at his senior managers inside the club.
Was also very impressed with Liam MacLeod’s commentary. He sounded genuinely happy and excited for the Scottish team.
A Stor
“Mate that is total hypothesis.”
A hypothesis is a good thing. It gives you an opinion which you can then test against reality.
In this case, the test question would be:-
Is it true or not true that Celtic (and most other clubs) will do some of their business early on in each transfer window and complete its business late on in the transfer window?
And all of that takes place against the inevitability of early qualifying rounds before a transfer window closes.
You cannot square the circle but you can sometimes knock it a bit out of shape.
BBC commentary of JF goal is excellent, not quite Peter Martin’s Nakamura or Henrik v Boavista but still pretty great!
Excellent result, crackin atmosphere. Now, can we have a driving dynamic midfielder, a centre half who isn’t a bomb scare and a goal scorer?
Goldstar10
Don’t know where Walker got his ticket,but he didn’t get in from Lenny.
TTTT
Give me the job. I will do it for free. but it needs done. Until it is done and the faithful are happy as larry my Old Firm mindset comment still holds.
Our strategy has a last 16 ceiling. That results in good experienced coaches quitting as they dont feel appreciated. That needs solved IMHO
If that means Celtic dropping their knickers for a one off … then I feel we should go for it.
A quality midfield playmaker and striker and give us all a wee bit of hope about breaking the ceiling and keeping Lenny.
Come on Celtic be a devil.
HH
Well done last night Celtic.My nerves were shredded at times but you came through.
On a sadder note I’ve just returned from a funeral. RIP Brian. You were taken far too young.
I don’t really post but always have a look in. Last night was obviously great.
On another matter entirely. Could anyone tell me what happened to the poster Philvis?
I used to like reading his witty posts but haven’t seen any of them for a long time.
Duntocher_Bhoy
13:11 on
29 August, 2013
Now, can we have a driving dynamic midfielder, a centre half who isn’t a bomb scare and a goal scorer?
We don’t have enough space in European squad for three more players (unless someone is leaving or being left out European squad). Two more and its full. Looks like Biton & Pukki and that’s it.
Great to wake up this morning. Took the wee man to school and came back and watched it again. Magic. Well done NFL and all who got us here but why someone would post a BMcM blog is beyond me. FFS and HH.
A Stor Mo Chroi
13:04 on
29 August, 2013
One thing to bear in mind that that’s not just player wages. Our total operation is so much more massive than anybody else’s.
However, let’s say for the sake of arguments that the % differences carry over directly to the player wages. Do I think it’s bang for buck? Overall yes, because there’s not a single team anywhere else in Scotland that you’d have said were a stick on to get past Cliftonville, never mind last night.
If we want to be in any form of European competition particularly the CL, we have to accept that we need to employ and pay players at that level. Making them perform at that level all the time is up to the manager.
The priority is a weaker and beatable Pot3 team !
Anything else is a bonus. If I was picking it would be :
Real Madrid
Paris
Basel
Too much positivity on here today – that’s not the CQN way
We expect moaning, bad mouthing and arguments
i know what will sort it out – if we draw CSKA Moscow then the away game will more than likely be moved to a 5pm kick off because it will be minus 1,000,000 Frintons in Moscow later in the night over there during the late autumn and winter
However, this will come as a complete surprise to some people on here, who will come on in their droves to complain that they have already booked flights for a 7.45pm (CP time) kick off
“Why should our kick-off times be dictated to by harsh winters” will be their cry
There, that should get CQN back to normal
p.s. the ‘Frinton’ is a measurement of temperature named by and after the host of a now defunct (not so) well known darts related t.v. programme
hooooopppppppsssssssss
Duntocher_Bhoy
13:11 on
29 August, 2013
Unless we are signing a Scottish player!!
Real Madrid, PSG, Borussia Dortmund. The £ signs in Peter’s eyes would light up!!
What a privilege it was to be at Celtic Park last night. The atmosphere was fantastic and the result tremendous. We sang ourselves hoarse and danced as the goals went in.
The singing even continued as we made our way down through the stairwells and out of the stadium.
What a night! More please Celtic.
QoS v the NewCo should be cracker in the Ramsdens…… mind you !
The glamour of the exposure on BBC ALBA …..
Having a Celtic day , got other things to do but they can wait.
Like the look of the Nir , had a look at his stats in comparison to Wanyama on the transfer website thingy , he can do well with us I’m sure .
Teemu as well , he is a player , goals are back.
Looking forward to watching this new team being built and developed.
Reading the negativity of the Scottish media.
This is not reflected on Talksport down here. They have all been effusive about our performance on and off the pitch.
Colin Murray reckons there is no better song in football than us singing JCGE.
Latest Hawkesby and Jacobs admitting to jumping out of their seats at the winner.
Good to be a Tim down here today.
mickbhoy1888
12:38 on 29 August, 2013
‘If anyone gets the chance listen to Aberdeen Supporter Liam McLeods BBC commentary when the goals are scored last night’
###
Let me guess.
‘WHAT A GOAL THAT WAS!!!’
A great performance last night and sounded on the TV like a brilliant atmosphere.
Don’t care who we get in the draw. No matter who is in there we can qualify for the knockout stages. Well done Neil. Hope Wee Oscar enjoyed that.
Blantyretim.
Spoke to your pal JB last night in Wimbledon. If you’re jf jnr then a drunken conversation wasn’t in vain.
Went kinda like this:
What’s your second name jim?
There’s a guy from Blantyre that was asking for you.
What was his name?
Dunno.
What age is he?
Dunno
What does he look like? Dunno.
What’s happened to awe the Huns ???
I’ve not heard a peep awe day from them…….
Good
H.H
Porto, Athletico Madrid, Olympiakos, Celtic
Paul67
Is there a particular strategy around players who we do sign who do not live up to expectations for whatever reason? The strategy appears to be to keep them as long as possible and hope for an improvement rather than cut our losses.
Two examples who spring to mind are Paddy McCourt and Beram Kayal.
We know Paddy has all the natural ability in the world but fitness was the issue there, we knew this from the start yet he was at Parkhead for around 4 and half years.
Kayal looked the part initially but has failed to perform to a high standard, also has his fitness issues and does not influence games nearly enough for a central midfielder.
Does strategy dictate that we keep such players in the hope their value will increase?
Granted, for the first time in a while this summer we did lose a number of squad ‘fillers’ but that had a lot to do with contracts running down, which kind of highlights the point…
HH
Kayal33
13:17 on 29 August, 2013
Just think we look a bit short of ideas at times, too many short passes onto the flanks then middle then back out wide. Would love to see a real midfield threat, someone to pick up the ball and just run at defenders.
Anyway, i’m not complaining, NL totally right to say all he said on radio last night.
Well done Celtic, roll on 4.45!!
HH
someone at this stage last season, was able to make a very accurate stab at what the groups would be, due to the fact so many clubs cant be in a group with another from their own association.
anyone smart enough to give it a stab this time ?
Some possible outcomes for this afternoon’s CL group stage draw:
Pastures new: Chelsea, Marseille, Galatasaray
Groundhog day: Benfica, AC Milan, Ajax
The A-team: Arsenal, Atletico, Ajax
Tough ties: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg
Short & sweet: Man Utd, PSG, Ajax
Long haul: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray
Recent UEFA finalists: Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Dortmund
stabs the wrong word, i mean give it a go.
Duntocher_Bhoy
13:25
Celtic ran at their defenders all night, with one obvious tactic being to draw free-kicks in dangerous areas. The first and third goals came from this.
The honest mistake..
Correct…. o))
Is this what pain looks like?
“scotlands second highest paid manager
gets his filthy team into the CL groups AGAIN
Scotland’s highest paid manager get’s us booted out of a national cup barely before the season starts AGAIN”
——
“Lemon’s still not achieved anything off his own back. He is getting assistance at every turn.”
——
” Lennon’s new contract makes him the highest paid manager in Scotland.”
——
“[NL] is the luckiest manager alive. Gets everything handed to him on a platter and still manages to **** things up.
I could list the good luck he has had but this is a Rangers forum.”
——
” We are out of Europe through no fault of Ally’s”
——
“Maybe I’ve been asleep again, but which national cup have we been booted out of this season.
To my recollection we have played three league matches all of which we have won, and one Ramsdens cup match this week which we also won.”
——
” Ally should have a wage for life for the services and trophies he has won for the club.”
——
“Except from all the crippling debt they are hiding behind shell companies and all the debt to uncle Desmond that they struggle to pay the interest on.
All acquired chasing us for 3 year with no return. ”
——
“Pathetic comparing [NL] to Super Ally, lennon had no transfer embargo and none of the pressure Ally had to deal with.”
——
“Last night whether or not some of you want to accept it was a disaster for us”