It was Brugge who showed the way in our Champions League game in November last year. They pressed Celtic in the middle third which was enough to inhibit our ability to progress the ball into advanced areas. Other managers watched.
Five weeks later, Phillippe Clement copied these tactics in a 3-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox. Barry Ferguson followed this up in March, winning at Celtic Park, then again in a draw at Ibrox. Already-eliminated Young Boys came to Celtic Park, went man-for-man in the middle and lost to a late own-goal.
We watched the same show in the Scottish Cup Final in May: 120 minutes of midfield suffocation before a penalty loss to weaker opposition. It was no different over 210 painful minutes against Kairat. Yesterday’s failure to land a glove on the most nervous defenders in Scottish football follows a well-established pattern. Russell Martin changed every tactic he has used in Glasgow and reverted to the play we all know succeeds against Celtic.
Games with against lesser sides and without Kyogo, Jota and Kuhn have floundered in the middle of the park. We seem to be focussed on adding attacking options today. This is necessary but attacking players are blunt if you cannot break a soft press in the middle of the park.
We got draws at Ibrox, against Kairat and in the Cup Final because we can defend well – Liam Scales was well worth his Man of the Match accolade. That will probably be enough to win the league while Newco beat themselves and the Hearts project is too new. But we are at a tactical cul-de-sac. Chris Davies did more than put the cones out.
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From what I have read, Fofana, aged 18, was Molde’s top player and key to them winning the league. His stats were 2nd best in the league. Chelsea did what Chelsea do, hoover up the best young talent, give them crazy money and then leave them in the wilderness with dozens of others.
Couple of hours to go, need to get finger out and sign up some decent players for the manager and the supporters, think the board have forgotten the purpose the a football club
HH
Like him or not, if I was Brendan, i’d resign in the morning, this shambles is an utter disgrace
king LUBO
Burnley,
Your infantile jibes at James’s Forrest only show you up as,and I will be as polite as is humanly possible,a total asshole.You can’t win your argument resort to personal slurs.
I don’t care if some on the board have fallen out with Brendan or if he has took the nip with them.They all should be working for the greater good of Celtic.
To do otherwise is a fucking disgrace
Test
Capitalist Capture FC.
Time to stop feeding the beats.
The huns have tooled up and will win the league.
These parasites will walk away with your money.
Balikwisha and tomekti could and should have been signed in time for champs league qual. We ended up paying asking price for both since clubs know how desperate we are (well communicated Brendan).
Faffin around with low ball deals for our MAIN striking target has cost us a proven goalscorer and physicality to get us up the pitch. Could argue we didn’t win ibrox since idah was disrupted. A shambles from Celtic.
Fofana or someone else in the next 3hrs.
I just don’t get how smart intelligent Celtic supporters think this is the best way to conduct business. For me, last minute should opportunistic or emergency cover for injury. Last minute should never be strategy.
Sevco new striker 6ft 4 “ I think we know the way they are planning 😡
Celtic40ForMe
Did you cut and paste the post about about hard to get deals done from 2004?
As for the Hammarby lad, Transfermarkt confirms he’s a left winger. He can join the queue we bind Maeda, Balikwisha and Jota when he’s back.
In fairness to the mute he probably forgot to put on his Jimmy Cricket boots today. Busy bhoy. Not.
CHAIRBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2025 7:28 PM
Was thinking that list, you’re the man with the factual evidence.
You’d think some of these boardroom expert commenters would at least have the good grace to wave a white flag, when they come back in through the open window. It turns out not only can they read a balance, sheet they know a diddy tactical manager when they’ve see one.
They’ve a full season of supporting Celtic to face or so they say.
HH
No bids for Maeda? Reo? Board won’t be happy.
teabhoy on 1st September 2025 7:49 pm
They all should be working for the greater good of Celtic.
Agree but when it comes to money!!!!!
Burnley 78
Who should be our next manager ?
Who should be our new striker ,winger ,defender .
Who should be our next chairman,no need to answer this one .HH
teabhoy on 1st September 2025 7:49 pm
I don’t care if some on the board have fallen out with Brendan or if he has took the nip with them.They all should be working for the greater good of Celtic.
———————-
the absolute most relevant point in the whole blogesphere today.
All of them, in every position, from owners, to executives, to neds, should be doing everything in the best interests of the club/plc, they are not two seperate things, it operates that way, but it is not.
the chairman should not be voting on his own renumeration.
the bonus scheme 20%-505 for goodness sake we are not an enegry company, we are quarter of the size of ag barr (£450m turnover a year / £50m profit)
their ceo earns – £1.5m.
Turkeybhoy on 1st September 2025 7:39 pm
do you miss JFs infantile slagging of anyone who disagrees with his points ? many a sweary word used, but no one is allowed to dissent on his own mulit posting “wrote a piece about it” blog.
Tom,
try posting something on the celtic blog arguing a point with the fella.
his charm offensive last two days to try garner an audience, he wont allow it on his own blog,
we are due a 2000 word contribution soon, he is composing it now.
They really are trying to provoke Rodgers into resigning aren’t they?
Didn’t take too kindly to his public criticisms of them. Egos must come first at all times.
Meanwhile Desmond has decided Johnny Kenny will be our main striker. Bob Kelly lives indeed.
AG Barr Shareholders Vote to Increase New CEO’s Pay
June 12, 2024
Shareholders of AG Barr have supported a resolution to increase the new CEO’s salary by 25.7%, despite the company cutting almost 200 jobs in a strategy pivot earlier this year.
AG Barr is one of the UK’s largest soft drinks businesses and owns multiple brands including Irn Bru, Funkin Cocktails, Boost Drinks, Rubicon and Strathmore Water.
In an AGM held on May 31, 81.9% of shareholders voted to approve the annual statement by the chair of the remuneration committee and the director’s remuneration report for 2024.
This was a slight decrease from 82.6% of votes in favour of approving the remuneration report in 2023 and an increase from 73.3% of votes in support in 2022.
Euan Sutherland will be granted a base salary of £650,000 for the 2024/25 year.
In comparison, the previous CEO Roger White was paid £513,000 in the 2023/24 year and will receive a pay of £517,000 until 31 July, when he will depart from his role.
———————–
why does MN get £800k pa base salary ?
Biggest scandal of the day was one of our main CF targets for the 3 months,signing for Middlesboro.£6 million.He wanted to comes to us so badly,he refused to play at one point.
David Strelec.Every punter saying he ,with his style of play,would be perfect for us.
Not sure,around ,£3.5. Million,we went to.
Oh Yesssss we did.
Reports that Fofana favours permanent move to Charlton. Are we really going into the season with Kenny as our main striker?
Say what you like about Idah but he’s better than we have.
Wonder how long our reserve list of striker targats is ?
Chairbhoy on 1st September 2025 7:28 pm
BSR @ 6:59 pm,
In other words Kyogo and Kuhn were sold not when convenient to the Club but to grab the cash, for the stash.
*both wanted to lave the former hardly kicked a ball for us after hearing others were in for him, the latter got a new agent in an effort to make the national squad plus he didnae fit BR’s game plan
Sky basing themselves at Auchenhowie and pleased as punch they are, is there lights on a CP?
Looks like we will be going through the list of out of contract forwards tomorrow.
SS,
No points for digging me up on James Forrest.I am on record on here saying,some of his blogs are terrific,some a bit crap.He actually dumped me off his site years ago,regards the John Mc Ginn transfer,but,its his site,and reading.the comments on his blog,there are quite a few who give him Pelter’s.Nevertheless,personal,and I mean,personal snidey jibes,are a disgrace.
I will tell you to your face,as a few know,Snides,no time for.
Forget the Chelsea striker,go and sign Kieren Bowie at Hibs ,£5 million a steal in my opinion.
Are we really after a twat that prefers CHARLTON !!!!!!!!!.Dear God,FF in meltdown tonight.
dessybhoy on 1st September 2025 8:22 pm
Sky basing themselves at Auchenhowie and pleased as punch they are
—–
Obviously.
Where their biggest client base is.
St Stivis:
Well I said some very nice things about one of your recent posts, and we know you don’t read me.
Or do you?
Anyway, I’ll ignore you from now and you should ignore me. That way the rest of the board doesn’t have to sift through your inane ranting. Save it for somewhere else …
Oh wait … haha. I almost forgot … :)
TURKEYBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2025 8:27 PM
He might not prefer Charlton per se but they’re offering a permanent deal, not a loan.
Tangbhoy @ 4:11 pm,
“Our Manager produced a press conference of sickening sycophantic behaviour on friday. I know many people that “bleed Celtic” and they would run a much better club than we currently have.”
Well, the manager stood up for the football club when he said Idah and Yang are not going until they are replaced.
Also after the SACK THE BOARD, chants at the Celtic Park, Kairat game, it would be wise for the manager not to inflame the situation and give the Board grounds to sack him without severance
An HR, Lawyer issue.
Anyways, the Board Bleedin’ Celtic can be interpreted in two ways as BSR stated at the time.
Bleedin’ green and white
Or
Bleedin’ the Club dry of it’s money to make the PLC rich!?
You pays your money, you make your interpretation.
Hail Hail
Evening all.
———————–
celtic40me on 1st September 2025 6:57 pm
Spot on.
———————-
Watching the transfers going through, the numbers spent on players I’ve never heard of is incredible.
Our board, well I will leave this post with a wee tune.
If a footballer does not want to be at our club, I don’t want him.
Tomorrow morning I will still wake up as a Celtic supporter.
A tune for our Board.
—————————————–
Madness – Embarrassment
https://youtu.be/P23Gqn6y8AI?si=_fFGXXUOxFttyFAb
Chairbhoy:
Haha funny you say that … I had the same thought. Weird.
Even hearing it I’m not entirely sure that’s not what he meant.
It’s really carefully phrased. On a plain text reading you could make a good argument for both of those interpretations, and a guy like Rodgers … that may have been the intent.
when it comes to giving out figures about the percentage of PLC shareholders.who voted for the company CEO’s wage rise then you really also need to explain how that vote works and where the numbers come from.
if ever the phrase ‘the devil is in the detail’ was so relevant, then it is in PLC voting figures.
but its detail that never gets the attention it deserves because the PLC execs dont want it discussed
Tontine Tim @ 8:21 pm,
Accept that totally.
However, my point was that the speed that the Board sell these players for, compared with the quality and timely nature of the replacements is way out of kilter.
There replacements should have been in and settled in time for the Kairat game.
Like I’ve said for the past decade or so…
…fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
Hail Hail
If Sevco have been running at a loss year on year…and purchases can only come from football generated income….then how are they managing to get around the FFP rules?…..
Timbhoy
I have a sneaking suspicion someone will be running about like a headless chicken in a wild panic trying to source Bowies agents number!!!
31003:
Hell knows. They’ve sold some players in this window as well tho, so maybe it’s not quite as far out on the limb as they’ve been in previous years … I don’t see that they’ve got much for the money though, and they better hope this pays off because they have to be on the edge.
The three year rolling average might get them out of jail for one year and maybe even two … but that third year is going to hurt like Hell.