Kelechi Iheanacho (28) fills the Adam Idah shaped hole in the squad a day after agreeing to terminate his Sevilla contract. The striker left Leicester City last summer after seven years but endured a torrid time there (11 appearances, no goals), then on loan at Middlesborough (15 appearances, one goal) for the second half of last season.
Brendan Rodgers worked with Kelechi for four of the strikers best years and managed him through his most productive period. The manager has a clear preference for experience and for footballers who have played at the highest level, he will know better than me what he can get out of Kelechi.
From a strategic position, it’s not on the plan I thought we were following. Squad and first team places are scarce and (with few exceptions) should be occupied by players with potential to develop to a Champions League level, be sold and release funds to be reinvested.
This increasingly has the look of a transition season. A paltry £13m spent with only Callum Osmand (19) under the age of 23 is a strategy that will not deliver sustainable development. This has the look of a ‘one season and out’ project.
Welcome to Celtic, Kelechi.
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Rather ‘The look of a transition’ season…how about the ‘ I smell shite season’
VINNIETHEDOG on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 2:07 PM
“I’d have said BR would have been over the moon buying a 9 million player from Italy and a 6 million winger from Ajax ..( 800k more than winger from Hammerby ) …both young ..midfielder 19…looked class …..we would absolutely baulk at it”
The right winger from Ajax cost less than the right winger we signed. Slightly more than the left winger we signed
The midfielder from Italy cost less than 20 year old Engels from the Bundesliga
We were paying €10m for Dolberg until he chose Ajax
Spending the money isnt the problem
Playing Hideous football to watch ?
We scored the second most goals in league history…we scored 83 league goals after our supposedly downhill spiral beating Leipzig
Not sure if someone is serious when they come out with utter psh or completely at it
Anyone who blames BR for low balling after low balling for players has serious mental health issues regarding him !!!!
B78 – “ Personally I would be getting him moving now but it is not my £2 or £3M”.
It could end up costing them more than £2/3m if they’re not careful.
With the caveat I’ve never run a raffle let alone a business, once again I find myself being critical of the management team.
A simple decision tree exercise done 6 months ago would have predicted the current situation:
1. Will we offer/will he sign a new contract?: Yes/No.
2. If “No”, will we back him fully in the summer transfer window?: Yes/No.
3. If “No”, what is the likely outcome based on his previous behaviour?
This is no doubt over-simplistic, but here we are put out of the CL by a pub team and unable to lay a glover on
another that was fortunate to beat Alloa.
The look of a transition’ season
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i agree with that statement.
its what we are transitioning into that worrys me.
Celtic’s financial model seems to rely on the acquisition of moderately priced players some of whom are subsequently transferred for large profits. The success of this model coupled with decent European progression has ensured a healthy bank balance.
But none of this is possible without the core business. That core business is the Celtic support, its season books and its investment in cup ticket schemes and merchandise. The people who run Celtic largely ignore the views of supporters. In my own experience this has always been the case but the same is true of other successful clubs.
What is different about this season is that our Board may be involved in some sort of psychodrama with the manager they themselves appointed. I hope that this is not the case but it’s difficult to imagine any other explanation for the team being so obviously weaker than it was at the start of last season.
Any sighting of the Europa squad? I think it was due for submission today.
he is not the majority shareholder, he is the owner with the most shares, the pricipal, allowed to act in certain ways because he can, it is not illegal.
———–
Key aspects of a principal shareholder:
Threshold of Ownership:
The most common threshold for defining a principal shareholder is owning 10% or more of a company’s voting shares.
Voting Power:
Their significant shareholding provides the power to influence major decisions, such as the election of board members or the appointment of the CEO.
Indirect Ownership:
This ownership isn’t limited to direct holdings; it can also include shares owned by affiliates, or shares the principal shareholder has the right to acquire through agreements or options.
Influence vs. Active Management:
Not all principal shareholders are actively involved in the day-to-day management of the company. However, when they do exert influence, it is expected to be in the best interests of the corporation and its other shareholders.
Paul, Paul, Paul…..
Before I opened the blog this morning (Ottawa time), I thought to myself:
This is the moment that Paul will deliver an epic post (as he did several times in the early days). A post that, benefitting of the ruminating of a full day, in which he will put the finger to ALL of those who let us down over the course of this transfer window.
We were even given to believe that this would have included the case of Kasper Dolberg.
But, no. Just a linking between Brendan and a very late panic signing that only came into being because people (not Brendan) couldn’t sign the players that we actually wanted to sign.
Then you followed up with this:
‘From a strategic position, it’s not on the plan I thought we were following. Squad and first team places are scarce and (with few exceptions) should be occupied by players with potential to develop to a Champions League level, be sold and release funds to be reinvested’.
A few thoughts on this….
1. If we had successfully signed the young players that we allegedly tried to sign, we wouldn’t have ended up in Old Folks bin.
2. We need experienced players who can help young players develop and make money for the club. Calum looks like he doesn’t have many more miles in him, for instance.
3. We don’t need to make a profit on ALL players.
4. More importantly, a STRATEGY is useless without an OBJECTIVE.
How about an Objective of qualifying for the UCL 2, or 4 times in 6 years? That would give us a measure as to how successful our board are.
Anyway, I will be in Glasgow for the home games against Hibs and Braga. I might not get a ticket for the Hibs game, as our Board refuse to operate a ticket ‘exchange’. There could be upwards of 10,000 empty seats that we refuse to sell. However, I suspect that the Board will have chased away enough season ticket holders from the Europa League games….I might have my choice of seats.
Have a good day.
Weeron.
Celtic4me……that’s where you and me differ….o told anyone who would listen there wasn’t a cat in hells chance we would sign Dolberg….not a chance….certainly not at the 10 million euro asking price……player said it himself….I don’t think they are serious…..we obviously weren’t
We signed Engels ( overpaid last day nonsense) because we AGAIN ran out of time ….look when bruges signed Stankovic…certainly wasn’t Sept 1st!!
It’s very easy to kid on you’re wanting to sign someone another thing completely doing it
Favourite Uncle
Just read about your health problem on here a few minutes ago.
Whatever it is, I hope you recover soon and completely. If you feel up to it, send me a text or an e-mail.
It may be “utter pish”, to quote a long time contributor, but I am of the opinion that at the moment our football is boring. Imo, the person responsible for that is our manager. He seems to have only 1 tactic, which every other team has sussed out. Where oh where is the Plan B?
“So Kelechi how come you arrived so late?”
“I got here as soon as I could…”
tommydoccsc
The people who run Celtic largely ignore the views of supporters. In my own experience this has always been the case but the same is true of other successful clubs.
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but how many other clubs are run by people that have the same level of obvious dislike for the supporters that our ‘custodians’ have.
but how many other clubs are run by people that have the same level of obvious dislike for the supporters that our ‘custodians’ have.
pretty common theme, from queens par k to manchester united, as old as the game itself, supporters believe owners do not like them.
but why would you like them ?
timmy7_noted on 3rd September 2025 1:45 pm
“To think I once got a ban for using a wee sweary.”
…………….
HA HA HA HA, Did you have your Snyderman Pyjamas on when you typed that?
You got a fake ban like Teary mann gets, 2 days then brought back on again.
Just to pretend that the blog is a level playing field. lol
Yet the Mod comes on with his swamp talk and……..nothing!
You didn’t get your NAME REMOVED 100% BAN, like ERNIE LYNCH, CANAMALAR, KEVJUNGLE, and, THE LION’S ROAR, from the sentinal clique blog.
Because you are a toothless cuddly toy who abuses disabled people, just like Teary mann does, is that not grounds for banning?
I don’t want to see anybody banned, BUT, if swamp creatures get to decide who does get banned, then its more evidence that Timdom died in 1994! DEAD!
How about the Mod coming on and telling the watching world how many sheets of paper he used to clean his ass, and blog response….Tumbleweed.
You have more faces than the town clock. That’s why you get fake bans.
Are you another one of the blind mice who can’t see the contents of the disgusting Mods comments, that you and, THE ENTIRE BLOG never notice lol. like: “the board can go and suck a ….” Mod spitting the dummy cause the board didny give the manchild Rodgers even more of your money to sit on the bench next to all the players he bought when he was Brendan Jekyll, and then he changes back to Brendan Hyde, instantly forgetting about the £32 million of players already on the bench from last years no bids for them yet purchases, and they all sit on the bench watching us being knocked out of the CL?
Purchased by whom and for what????
I think we need to see drug tests on the entire Cellic dugout, and Cellic TV, and The Cellic View, and the boardroom.
The entire club is a scam.
I know I repeat myself and I also know it would not affect the finances of the Club, but why don’t we totally boycott the next home game and cause some embarrassment to our board, why not ?
Advisory note, write off the hunscum at our peril. Yeah, Russel Martin is not good but at least thems have gone about their business in a professional way, unlike us.
KING LUBO
Parkheadcumsalford on 3rd September 2025 2:35 pm
It may be “utter pish”, to quote a long time contributor, but I am of the opinion that at the moment our football is boring.
Can’t disagree with that. When Ange arrived it took awhile for him to get his machine to work but from the off you could see his team was exciting
If we are in a transition season, it needs to be based on either Brendan signing an extension so that he can see the transition through and take us forward beyond it or it needs to be that he leaves and a new manager who gets this season to build the team as he wants with a view to being better ready for next season.
Running down his contract is the worst scenario for everyone.
For me, this is the fundamental issue now.
fourstonecoppi on 3rd September 2025 2:50 pm…
And absolutely p*sh in defence….
Weeron
pretty common theme, from queens par k to manchester united, as old as the game itself, supporters believe owners do not like them.
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i think modern day owners dont like traditional style supporters.
they would much rather a sanitised support who dont shout too much but just hand over their cash
kinglubo
Well for one our next home game is against what appears to be an energised Hibernian.
Ergo could be a good test and indeed a good game.
That said, before that we have an away SPL game at Kilmarnock, a LC trip to Firhill, and a tough away EL match against Red Star in Belgrade, a variety of opponents who should prove likely indicators of where we are after the International break.
HRVATSKI JIM on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 2:53 PM
Or get another manager next season with similar approach to Brendan ?
HH
lets all do the huddle on 3rd September 2025 2:59 pm
pretty common theme, from queens par k to manchester united, as old as the game itself, supporters believe owners do not like them.
—-
i think modern day owners dont like traditional style supporters.
they would much rather a sanitised support who dont shout too much but just hand over their cash
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if they could sell out matches to tourists who spend spend spend they would.
Celtic40me
The right winger from Ajax cost less than the right winger we signed
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What right winger did we sign ?
The biggest problem is that several of our executive think they are the smartest people in the room so they go “off piste” from normal football operations and then realise they are hugely out of their depth as has happened in the last 2 summer windows.
Sure they got lucky with a number of big upsells but we sure had to kiss a lot of frogs to get them but they then get excited and think thats the only way to build (Summer 2023) which it clearly is not.
Once (ss24) they extended the spend but make no mistake it was still all about what the resale value was which to them is clearly more important than on field contribution. If it was down to on field contribution it is difficult to argue that the buys from SS24 did well as after all we won a double and had our best CL since go knows when and they played in every game as i remember. Did they blow the doors off…..no but did they contribute significantly YES.
Like most things the key is balance – we cannot have a team full of CL experienced players as we probably couldn’t afford it but equally you cannot have a team of young projects who may or may not make it. Pauls suggested plan is completely unworkable and fraught with danger. Balance is a 2/3 bust the wage structure game changing CL experienced players, 3/4/5 CL level players most likely Scandinavian or east EU players or homegrown CMc types then there is space for your more development type players who not only get to experience CL but get to work with and learn from good experienced pros.
That is a plan, a target, an aspiration that makes sense – it provides a blueprint for recruitment as you know exactly the parameters your working too so targeting should be far easier.
We also need to get over this they won’t come here nonsense – sure some may not fancy it but plenty would and if you have to add a few pounds to wage packets so be it, that is the world we live so you either take part or you don’t. We don’t seem to have much difficulty finding increases for faltering executives?
Like many have said previously – prepare for CL and the domestic stuff will take control of itself.
I also think the clubs from which we buy are getting wise to the business model of buy for 1.5m and sell on for 10m. They’re thinking, well we’ll raise the price and include some sell-on clauses. Is Balikwisha really a 5m player? i.e. three times as good as Nygren?
if they could sell out matches to tourists who spend spend spend they would.
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i cringe when i watch the english premiership when a players runs towards the fans after a goal and its just folk filming on their phones instead of celebrating the goal.
im all for ‘they have paid for their ticket and arent doing any harm so…’
but even then…
MOISEY17 on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 3:15 PM
Our starting 11 is the oldest its been for a long time, we’re good for experience right now, the signings we’ve kept are have enough experience of the spfl and Europe
CL player strategy should be : experienced GK: 2 solid centre halves , experienced centre mid and centre forward . These ghuys are the spine and best paid.
2 flying wingers in their mid twenties , other positions filled with opportunistic buys
Good approachcfc
FASSREIFEN on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 3:20 PM
I also think the clubs from which we buy are getting wise to the business model of buy for 1.5m and sell on for 10m. They’re thinking, well we’ll raise the price and include some sell-on clauses. Is Balikwisha really a 5m player? i.e. three times as good as Nygren?
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They’re also well aware we’re sitting on a relative mountain of cash.
From a strategic position, it’s not on the plan I thought we were following. Squad and first team places are scarce and (with few exceptions) should be occupied by players with potential to develop to a Champions League level, be sold and release funds to be reinvested.
I agree that ought to be our strategy and, at some level, it probably is (though not this summer). The execution is where it all falls down and has for years!
Where it works is bringing in folk who are good enough to go straight into the side and perform well and we give them CL/European exposure. Almost all of our “big sales” meet this criteria – Forster, Wanyama, VVD, Dembele, Frimpong, Eddy, KT, Jota, Kuhn and MOR. Ajer is the outlier but he basically joined as a kid so was never going straight into the team.
Meanwhile, we’ve made minimal profit on a handful and losses on the bulk of those who aren’t or haven’t been good enough to go straight into the team – just this summer we made losses on Kwon, Tillio and Lagerbeilke and we can ruthlessly off our favourite failed punt of the past.
We never learn though and keep repeating the mistakes of the past. With room for more experienced players (Kyogo, JJ, Starfelt, Mooy types who do a job and we break even or make a small profit on) we should focus on younger players to grow and flip – but they need to be ready to play for us and contribute now, not potentially in a couple of years. Because we are poor at developing that profile with only Ajer to show for it.
And we need to ditch the “leave until the end of the window” approach – other than CCV, Jota, GG day, we rarely pick up the required quality in any volume leaving it so late!
THE RETURNOF WEERON on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 2:33 PM
I hope you get your match tickets. As for the Europa, tickets could well be difficult to come by if the top tier is shut.
At this moment in time our football is stale and boring….nobody would disagree with that….was it the same this time last year ???….same negative manager ( apparently) .when signing 3 players for 26 million galvanised the squad and support…..oh we can do it ….its what new signings of a certain quality does.
I’m of the opinion we shouldn’t really be signing players for under 5 million nowadays…every summer we should be buying at least 4 with a minimum spend of 20 million……fancy buying Stankovic and Forbs 16 million euro at the beginning of July….we could afford it straight away with the khun money……..Nah let’s wait…better bargains on the last day ..even better after 7pm on the last day when the window PL window closes
Good afternoon all from the Brazen Head.
Crisis, what crisis?🤔
The Propaganda Placeman is best ignored, it’s a business thing…..
Laughable
It seems that hun manager is not slow in changing his tactics when he sees the hun werewolves marching up his front lawn….