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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BigChips
Porto isn’t long haul, bhoy. It’s not even in a different time zone.
I’ll be in Paris on 26th November, a potential date for match day 5. PSG away on that date will do nicely please.
traditionalist88
13:23 on
29 August, 2013
Just wondering how wee Izzy feels today.
Ok has anybody got the commentary from last night that I can play on my phone…android…. can’t wait to get home
JCGE
HH
Apparently in the trial draw we got Barca, Juve & Galatasaray.
Last season the trial draw was repeated in the actual draw for all 8 groups!!
I would love a Turkish team. Bring it on !!!
traditionalist88
We did not keep Juarez, Gershon, Miku, Nouinoui etc for long so there does not appear to be such a strategy. OK some of them were loan signings but Juarez and Lassad were not.
The two players, Kayal and McCourt, that you cite, actually played a lot of games for us. Kayal (69 games over 3 years is 23 per season) and McCourt (66 over 5- seems a bit player but his appearances over those 5 years were :- 5, 14, 31, 16 and 20 so he was a heavily used fringe player. These guys do a job even if it mostly helping to rest slightly better players.
Afternoon Champions League Bhoys
I have 4-5 spare tickets for Sat game vs Utd. Let me know if interested.
Celticrollercoaster@yahoo.co.uk
HH
CRC
Think Saturday wilk be different team..
Sammi wee JF looked dead on their feet last night.
Lenny on Talksport soon.
And just to make my day better we had a draw in the League Cup which the zombies also miss out on. Double lol!
Some teh posts today are quite intellectual, but I can’t tell which of you are pseudo intellectual.
Now
Anyone mentioned the GB yet ?
Thought not
Teams on the park create the atmosphere simples
PAUL a question for you. Do you have any ideas on why I received an e-mail claiming to be from Celtic Quick News (see below).
…………………………………………………………………….
I received a strange e-mail claiming to be from Celtic Quick News. See below. Is it a set up? BTW I have deleted the last number of the phone number.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Kickinthenakas
From
Celtic Quick News
Kieran, Paul asked me to send you his mobile number: 077*******
Enjoy the game, Paul
Sir Paul
Neil.. In Ma Opinion.
Wiz..simply..
WHINING..during the Bulk of that Interview.
Ah know.. Don’t be shocked…
And Ye shouldna Be.. Fur.. Ah ALWAYS tell is Like it Lays!
Neil, Came over as a wee bhoy who wiz Hurt tae Hell and Back. because
He wiz reprimanded..
But in this Case.. That Reprimand , directed at Him.. An Arrow thru the Heart,,
wiz from the Celtic Fans..
And Why ?
Well.. Because Neil..
GOOFED.. Blundered.. Messedup. By sending oot A Team tae Kazaktoon..
in such a vulnerable position.
The Celtic Team.on that Occasion… which he assembled and sent oot..
was Unprepared.
and..of Course , mebbe, in His Mind..It wiz Fully Prepared.
But,let me say.. if that was the Case..
In Ma Mind…
It wiz certainly.. the Maist..ILL-PREPARED, Prepared .. well .. Prepared..
that Ah hiv evah seen!
And His Idea of Playing Sammi as the Lonely Linwood Striker , wiz. way off.
It robbed up of Sammi, wonderful Runs.
as a Left Wing Raider..
Also..
Remember, the Celtic Defense’s reaction tae the First Long Shy that the Gandydancers
made?
Reaction, is the Wrang Woid..
INACTION. .. Ah shoulda Called .. it.
So Ah Wull..
The Celtic Defense’s ..Inaction.. tae the Long Throw..
If Ah wiz A Betting Man.. which is a Stoopid Question..
Ah wid Declare
That the Gandydancers use of the LONG THROW .. was
News.. Yes.. News.. tae oor Startled and Discombobulated Defense..
And it Showed..
Oh…How it Showed~
It was obvious,tae me that the Celtic Defense, has NOT BIN INFORMED of this
DEVASTING? Weapon.. ( Try..”ONLY.”..ed) in the Gandydancers Arsenal.
Exactly.. “Only”. is an excellent word.But, nevertheless, The Long Throw Tactic wiz
News tae Neil n his Crack team of Back room Bhoys.
Face it,kiddo..
Neil’s Interview ,which Ah newly Watched..
Showed that Neil has A Lot mair tae Learn , in his Journey of Progressing frum
“Corner Bhoy”.. tae The August Celtic..Managerial Post.
He has Progressed
as realized that Swearing at Refs..is not the Best way tae
behave.. as a Celtic Manager.
And don’ think fur A Minute that the Celtic Administrators hiv no ..
Told him How the Cow Ate the Cabages. Because of his Embarrrassing and Stoopid
Public Argument.. with a Group of Fans.. eether..
Anyway..
Suffice tae say…Neil Is Slowly but surely
Polishing up his PUBLIC PERSONA.
But, his Latest Whine. .against DESERVED Criticism by his. well .Critics
Shows me that Neil ,still has a Way tae go . .in his Brush up an Shave.
Neil.. will Learn.
He is Bright enuff.,, but..
He should Remember that The Celtic Fans . are FANS of the CELTIC..first and Center.
A Manager Has tae Earn Thur Support.
And he Has.. No Question
Howevahhhhhhhh..
Support,in General. is A Totally different Item .. than Respect..
And he should work Mair on that Aspect… Of whit the Celtic Fans wish Tae See,
in A Celtic Manager.
All the Above is Ma Opinion..
Any of Ma Readers who Disagrees, is Mair than Entitled.
Howevah..
If He or She diz Disagree, with Ma Stated Opinions ,in This.
Wid Heor She..be a Pal..
And Refrain From Personal Attacks oan Poor Li’l ole Kojo???
and Couch thur disagreements..in a Gentlemanly and Lady-Like
Civilized Fashion.
Fur Ah hiv a Bit of A Headache..( Mair like. “Hang-Over”…ed)
The Result of Too Much Partying.. and Too Little Sleep..
Because of Celtic’s Stunning and Wonderful Comeback.. Cliff Hanger ..of A Victory..
Nice Chatting
Kojo.
Still, Laughin’
lenny s no help might be a reference to the lack of coefficient points gained by other Scottish clubs
Steviebhoy66
13:29 on
29 August, 2013
Ok has anybody got the commentary from last night that I can play on my phone…android…. can’t wait to get home
JCGE
page one YORKBHOY 12.42
Kayal33
That will be who we get then >}
HH
I always enjoy being a Celtic supporter,been enjoying it since i went to first match with ma dad! i wis 6 it was the 1970 semi against the might of leeds united and fur a treat he took me and i have never forgot, the people! never seen so people, the excitement..well you all know the score just to say im 49 now and its never changed, the atmosphere, the game. Another memory to put way awe the great games i’v seen since and to hope for more to come .Mon a Hoops
garygillespieshamstring
Really ? When there are no other Scottish teams left in Europe this season ?
Clutching at straws there me thinks
HH
Lenny wants Real Madrid and Man City
Kojo
13:37 on
29 August, 2013
NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEED AGAIN.
just watching the goals again and realising how lucky
to be involved in that atmosphere last night and over
the years ive been in a few
it made me wonder what guys like gary and vic think
when they watch these games
the money side apart they must have regrets that they
might never experience champions league games again
need to read ma posts before i post them.lol
Sorry Paul, your header sounds as if it came straight from the boardroom. The continuing references to Deidco in articles is in my opinion deflection at it’s best, a tactic our board is very good at. All references to yon deid team should be scrapped from this forum, yes we all know what’s happened to them, but please don’t try and worry us about the “look what happened to them scenario” our board really need to get the finger out and support Neil with resources of better quality, not scraps from the table, that said, despite having a limited squad available i still feel he got it badly wrong in the 1st leg. We can’t rely on the same players and a bit of luck when we’re up against the big boys, more quality, less quantity please.
Talksport
Real Madrid
Fantastic experience for myself and ……ohhh aye the players as well
What about the 50,000 that were there last night neil
Celtic_First (13:28): “BigChips, Porto isn’t long haul, bhoy. It’s not even in a different time zone.”
I know that, but Oporto is further from Glasgow than Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, London or Manchester.
However, on Google-mapping it I now find that in fact Lisbon is 94 miles further (by road & ferry) than Oporto. Had I not been confusing the location of Oporto with that of Faro I’d have realised!
FAVOURITE UNCLE
page one YORKBHOY 12.42
FLASGH won’t play on Android!!!!!!
Hoping someone has it on utube or soundcloud
Thank you anyway
Got your email adress, will send message tonight or tomorrow
:)
Brilliant result last night everyone did their part but FF still causing concern.
Lenny was uptight and right to have a go at the MSM but difficult to see how he can target bloggers per se as there is such a range of opinion.
I love the Lurgan man to bits and have never been critical of him but, he can’t paper over the deficiencies that are there to be seen. The width of the crossbar saved us from going out and while he must publicly defend all of his team and their performances (even Shaktar away) he must privately share some of our genuine concerns about weaknesses that will be exploited at home and on our travels.
This blog is running with the Masonic declarations for judges/jurors petition. Worth a read? http://www.betternation.org/
Oh, ya beauty……l forgot to record the game last night, in my excitement, but checked ‘catch-up…on demand…..now downloading…..yyyeeeeessssss
FLASGH????
FLASH I meant
Awe Naw – would certainly be very entertaining if you were let loose on the blazers, I might even feel sorry for them!
While we’re stuck in the current football environment, I really can’t see us getting above the glass ceiling. It would take a tremendous effort to even get to the last eight. Juve, who were no great shakes, made us look like mugs at CP and the 5-0 aggregate score tells its own story.
As each year passes, the chances of another Porto winning the CL diminish. And they had some South American players, which is not an option for us.
With the decreasing national co-efficient, we’ll have to carry on negotiating three qualifying rounds for the forseeable future and that brings its own risks.
Awe Naw – get us out of Scotland!!
T4
Scullybhoy
It was me that was trying to get hold of you along with a host of other cqners….hungover but happy this morning
Posted a few times..HH
Kikinthenakas
Duntocher-bhoy
How’s life in the village these days? I left 35 years ago and just drove thru thiss morning on the way to see the auld fella who is now in Hardgate. The Fore park is all grass – luxury!
Scullybhoy
Kickinthenakas asked p67 to email you becayse ge noticed your post re being in Glasgow and looking for simething to eat.
A few of us mwt up and went ti amore prior to going to the game.
It was an offer to join the rag tag and bobtails for a meal…
New Shakhter Karagandy replica top – £40
Ticket for a match to watch a team you don’t follow follow – £30
Travel costs to a game not involving any of your favourite clubs – £25
Feeling of utter dejection – Priceless
Morning Paul & all in Timland
(It’s 8.30am in North Carolina)
Huge admiration Paul for trying to put so much about Celtic into context.
“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.”
How true. Some of that on here last night.
Curious how the only pressure on the CEO/board that some can imagine is one from “beancounters” to make a profit, whereas arguably the biggest pressure is from fans to spend money on name players.
Could the club do a better job in communicating some of their rationale to fans?
There often seems a vacuum in this area.
HH