Last week, I wrote about how team building has two elements to it. The signing of players and the retaining of those which you already have. It is pointless to sign eleven footballers if none of them are adequate replacements for those who you sell, and no board which wants to be taken seriously can think that holding onto players for a year or two makes up for not bringing in quality to enhance the overall strength of the side.
We fail, lamentably, on both fronts over and over again. As this window edges towards its conclusion I am not surprised to see stories linking our players to moves to England and elsewhere. Nor am I surprised to see that Celtic is resisting those sales. Indeed, I’d have been shocked if we didn’t. This window has been farcical. The foot dragging that has gone on is disgraceful considering the many months we had to get all our ducks in a row.
So the sale of a key asset would have infuriated people. It would have been un-spinnable. I more and more come to believe that’s the very reason, the only reason, that it will not be done. Because you can bet that there are people inside Celtic Park openly salivating at the idea of us being able to bring in £20 million for O’Riley or Abada in the summer.
This board is not going to make us stronger. I’ve stopped hoping for it. They have too much previous for the kind of stuff we’re seeing to make us believe they’ll ever change their way of operating. This club will not build on the good foundations we have.
The asset stripping started the minute Lawwell senior was announced as chairman, but it will gather pace in the summer to come. At least two, perhaps more, of our top players will leave and the manager, who has not helped himself one bit by projecting weakness in the face of this, will not be allowed to replace quality with quality.
Pace and power he said in the summer, only to be handed a mixed bag of cheap punts. Get them in early in January he said. The first signing was a week ago, halfway through the window. We’ve now got a week left and no sign of life whatsoever.
The only reason we have saleable assets in the first place is that whatever Ange was doing, however he was getting it done, was stopped the minute the new head of recruitment was in the door. I’ve heard that he hired outside consultants. I’ve heard he spoke to people in his own network. I’ve heard all sorts of theories, but let’s focus on the facts; in the first two windows, where his control was total, we barely made a single mistake in the market.
Our January business was particularly thrilling; it was a triumph of good forward planning, exactly the opposite of what we’ve done here.
But I know already that one of the things we’re going to hear, and we’re going to hear it repeated ad nauseum by those who are pro-board and can’t see past them, is that in the event we don’t bring in any more players earmarked by the manager that we have “done well” in this window merely because we haven’t sold anybody good.
And it will be rubbish, of course, but it’s the kind of rubbish we’ve heard before, people wanting a pat on the back for essentially standing still. It’s simply not good enough and nobody should be trying to fob us off with excuses if this is what comes to pass.
Like I said yesterday, I am bracing myself for the worst, for being completely underwhelmed, and if we go into the second half of this campaign with three quarters fit Kyogo backed up by Oh we are gambling with this title. The level of opposition in this league is pitiful at the moment and because of that the Ibrox club will probably be good enough to keep pace with us, and if we slip we’re going to be in a lot of bother.
If this window closes without significant further business, and I mean players coming in, I don’t want to hear anybody defend the club on account of us not selling a prize asset. We went into this window hoping to be stronger coming out of it. Being told to chill because we’ve not materially weakened the team is simply not going to cut it.
I’m sick of excuses and being fobbed off like this.
Time for the GB to put up The Don’t Fall Asleep At The Wheel banner this time with Desmond Lawwell snr and Lawwell jnr images on it at Saturday’s game
It’s incredible tae think that this board are lookin like gamblin on throwin ibrox a 50-60 million lifeline, when all they have tae do is strengthen our own side with a few players. If this window just fizzles out without adequate cover and it costs us the title, the support should run that bunch out of Celtic Park by the only way. Buy NOTHIN, season tickets, merchandise NOTHIN. Get them out. They do it constantly, because they believe the Celtic support won’t take that action. Hide up at CP and ride out the backlash as usual. Then it’s back tae square one.
No further additions to the squad and this system of selling our best assets will prove fruitless, just has it always done.
We need change at board level to keep our fans happy, the ‘grey brigade’ are grey even in their outlook towards a progressing successful team, ie dour and content to remain unchanged…
Boardroom changes are a must.
This board is lamentable,do you think James that the vast majority of Celtic fans know what’s going on here with the liewells and desmond,their sole concern is to line their pockets,they don’t care about fans ,players or the manager for that matter,but why should they care because Celtic fans will continue to line their pockets through the sale of STs and merchandise,only the fans have the power to get rid of this board, which will happen if we fail to win the league, because by then it will be too late, because if sevco win it and land all the CL riches their board will spend it all to further strengthen their squad and they will leave us behind,in fact I don’t know if liewell realises that if sevco had the chance they would kill us stone dead,they don’t give a toss about keeping Celtic relevant ie the old firm pish.
Without taking the SPL for granted (you don’t stay in front by standing still), the big issue is progress in Europe. Is the club going to be equipped for going a stage further ?
Yeah. I’m past caring now, to be honest. The board are consistently showing no signs of ambition. This is down, primarily, to the people who run our club. And I don’t mean the board. I am talking about the largest shareholders who control who the board is made up of. Lawwell coming back as Chairman was, from a supporter’s point of view, such a retrograde step. But from a shareholder’s perspective, I suspect he’s seen as the man who increases return on investment.
As was the case with the Grants, Whites and Kellys – Celtic might have to go backward to allow it to go forward. You’ve said it yourself, James, the opposition in the SPFL is rank. So how can we glorify our team when all we achieve is achieved on the domestic front? And if we’re putting even that in danger then what the hell are the fans getting back for showing up in their droves week after week? It might sound entitled but we should be demanding more.
Lawwell, Desmond and company have taken us back to the days of the Kelly’s and White’s. I thought I’d never see this again. It’s a total disgrace. Fergus McCann, and all of us who purchased shares, did so on the understanding that the era of a couple of families dominating Celtic were over.
At the time, Brian Dempsey said ‘the rebels have won’. It’s turned out to be a false dawn. Yes, we’ve won loads of trophies but the standard in Scotland is so poor it’s hard not to – and now we’ve a bunch of 5th columnists on the board.
I worry about the 2nd half of the season. All it takes is an ‘honest challenge’ on Kyogo, Callum or Matt from one of the hammer throwers at Sevco or another anti-Celtic player in another side and we’ve no proven back ups for them. This board love to gamble on our behalf, but we need to get them out before the roof falls in.
We need a Fergus 2.0
Bang on the money that article.if kyogo.taylor and hart succumbed to injury.what have we got.absolute nante.oh is not good enough.lets stop kidding on he is.we need a striker.a left back and a goalkeeper.and a bit of fire and bite in the midfeild.its a total shambles.il be disgusted if there are no more incomings!
And yet we will still turn up and part with our hard earned cash to support the team. The charlatans on the board know this. They are not worried at all.
I stood outside the Park during matches in 94. I’ll do it again but this mob are worse than the Kelly’s and Whites etc. They were amateurs. This mob are professionals who know exactly what they’re wanting and how to get it. Liewwell makes me sick.
@ CMcD. That’s why they continue tae dae it. They know the Celtic support are loyal tae a fault and they absolutely exploit it. Greedy bastards who’s only real ambition is tae keep theirselves rich, thanks tae our support.
Bad management has always been the hallmark and the modus operandi of Celtic, whether its Bob Kelly picking the team, Stein with all his knowledge being offered the Pools (rather than Chairman), John Barnes, Neil Lennon and now Lawwell’s laws. I expect Rodgers to walk in the summer.
Lawwell & Co are cheating every Celtic supporter on the planet, in order to help out their criminal associates are Ibrox. Shame on the whole damn lot of them.
Hail Hail.
None of this January window surprises me and the board are not interesred in progression. As long as we win in Scotland and receive the money for making it to the Champions League, that’s as far as their progression goes. Brenden Rogers has shown no ambition either. He took the job at Celtic because he was out of one and the minute the English Premiership comes calling he’ll be off again. The Ange Postecoglou days seem a distant memory
How anybody could back either of the Lawwells or the board is completely beyond me. They are dragging the club backwards but don’t care as long as there’s money in the bank to pay their bonuses. Tory scum at their worst. We could end up losing this title to one complete pile of shite from across the city. If this happens there will be no place for the Tory board to hide. Do not trust Desmond either. He is just as bad as the rest.
The trouble is that’s exactly what they will be thinking, whether they’ll say it or not is another matter. Maybe they will, maybe proudly too and with some justification mibbies.
I reckon their mindset is simple; they spent when Ange first came in because the team needed it (or alternatively they had wound it down so much they had to). All achievable from the sales of French Eddie, Ajer and Christie to name a few thus leaving the club still with a positive financial benefit.
Doable because of their wise choice of a manager, no luck involved there matey, mibbies again ha ha. One that they scouted and that they knew knew the Asian market well and where many of the new acquisitions were value for money. Add two loan to buys and job’s a good ‘un. Some limited credibility can be given to those moves.
So thanks to their wise prudent approach the league was won again and with guaranteed CL entry sufficient to turn those loans into permanent deals come the season’s end.
Thanks to their vision, I’m trying here, the following season resulted in the league being won again and CL here we come (and out we go) but importantly in the book of Lawwell turning a profit once again.
Now without Ange (who read his own script), GG, JJ, Mooy, Starfelt even and Jota gone and a transfer (or high profit sale), increasing income it allowed them the opportunity to increase the reward for players staying and extending contracts and they took it. Wisely they’ve brought back Brendan hoping he would simply hold firm on Ange’s course.
That’s where any of the board bragging stops holding any credibility.
We’re weaker than last season if we include player losses and injuries and they are responsible for that too. The lessons of the TIAR season could well re-emerge. Lost quality has been replaced with decent development players but they’re in the process of development.
With little spent for Brendan to improve the first team squad they’re gambling on league success and automatic CL. Palma, Bernardo and an untested winger may or may not be enough. They’re gambling again but we’ve clearly been swept of course during November and December and they should be recognising that. Lawwell short sightedness and turning profit seems to be the steering the good ship’s priorities to the fore once again.
It won’t take much to get back to where need to be,. A couple of strong signings, right now I’ll settle for loans to buy preferably, and the promised land is still in reach. If nothing happens in the next week (and that includes movements across the city) we should just about have enough but mibbies not. Responsibility for either outcome lies with the board. HH
With regard to this window, it’s not just Celtic to be fair:
https://theathletic.com/5219334/2024/01/24/premier-league-transfers-january-no-deals/?source=user_shared_article
Hope the link to The Athletic works.
With regard to business done by Ange. Yes mostly strong but he wasn’t responsible for scouting Jota, Abada, CCV or Juranovic – he didn’t have the contacts across Europe – he clearly was on the front foot and the board were shambolic with the whole Howe and new CEO who’s name l’ve forgotten! And let’s not forget that O’Riley was not Ange’s first choice either. My singular criticism of Ange is not putting an arm around GG and giving enough game time to keep him happy (and maybe let Kyogo have that op done on his shoulder).
Don’t get me wrong our board frustrates the hell out of me – I don’t think they have adjusted their budgets for the new reality of the revamped CL – winning the league AND performing strongly enough to maintain Scotland’s coefficient is business critical.
I will say it again…. If Celtic really wanted to, they could quite easily destroy this league with the money they have. With the simultaneous purchases of “Bojan Miovski”, “Caoimhin Kelleher”, and “Tiago Araujo” this January, it wouldn’t hurt Celtic’s bank account in the slightest. In fact, Celtic will recoup the expenses by winning the league this year and qualifying for the Champions League, which comes with a new £60 million paycheck. But why do that? Why destroy the league by financially outclassing your arch rivals (to the point of no return) when you can simply manufacture a false sense of competitiveness with your league rivals to save the SPFL and NewCo long-term? And don’t forget that big, sexy, juicy £6 million cheque that comes with the SPFL Title. This is about saving Scottish Football and NewCo long-term, doing just about enough to stay a hairs breadth ahead of NewCo.
The grey brigade bean counters, only interested in their dividends, businessmen, filled with egos
All surely see a 10/20/30m investment on a 60m return?
Unless you’re scrambling around and getting told no or your getting told aye off another ajeti or barkas
I’d like to highlight Rodgers comment though where he said clubs don’t want to sell their top players, maybe we should stop looking at 4/5m range for X clubs best player and look at better clubs where there’s better players 7-10m who’s not getting a game cos he’s got 1/2 players in front of that are worth multiples of that
If we can’t get the deals done, for whatever legitimate reason, then there’s no point buying for the sake of buying. And we’ve sure been guilty of that
And I’d argue that Desmond is the guy with the real power at the club, and Rodgers was the man he pulled out the stops to get back. He’ll no be happy if his man isn’t getting backed. Lawel, Desmond Rodgers… I’m not sure lawel has the biggest say out of them 3, especially not after last time
Aberdeen defeated RFC at Ibrox and were only robbed of 3 points against them at Pittodrie by their pals in the VAR room . What more do you want them to do ? It’s not AFC fault that Celtic refuse to strengthen their squad ! They could have bought Shankland and probably guaranteed winning the league PLUS sickening RFC into the bargain . There’s a whole list of players that you could have bought to win this league ( Doig , Nisbet , Shankland , Miovski ) but a refusal to spend any money will cost your club dearly .