Today has already been a day of media scare stories—pretty much what you’d expect after a successful weekend where we advanced further in the cup and played Celtic’s signature brand of fabulous football.
The Scottish sports media is currently raving about how good Celtic looks. There are no exceptions. Friends are saying the same thing as our bitterest foes, and those foes are admitting it through gritted teeth: this Celtic side looks like it could sweep everything before it.
Under normal circumstances, when your team is playing this well, the fear is complacency.
The worry is that players might get too cocky, too full of themselves, and that the manager starts thinking the league is won before you’ve even shown up. But the truth is, this is a Brendan Rodgers team, with Callum McGregor as captain. These guys have been through this before, and they know better than to let their guard down.
Last season, we had a mid-season slump when we had a 7-point lead.
But that slump was as much about injuries, tiredness, and having to rely on the same small group of players—or inferior replacements—as it was about complacency. So, I’m not worried about complacency now. I believe this team will stay focused and determined to win every game. And with the right reinforcements, and I’ll talk more about that later, there’s no reason why this can’t be a tremendously successful campaign.
Of course, with Celtic in such pulverizing form, there are people in the media determined to find any story, no matter how minor, to beat us with. The one that’s taken prominence today is the Kyogo Furuhashi shoulder injury story. A story that’s not really news at all, since this blog and most of the other Celtic fan sites have been talking about it for months.
Yes, Kyogo has a shoulder injury, and at some stage, he will need a substantial operation. That operation could conceivably keep him out of football for four months. If he got a serious injury right now, we’d be forced back into the transfer market with a rather large cheque to spend in a hurry. But the truth is, and Brendan Rodgers has pointed this out, Kyogo had that injury when he signed for Celtic. It predates his time here.
Remarkably, Kyogo has managed to go through three full seasons without making that injury worse. The boss has been clear that while Kyogo will eventually need surgery, it will be the player’s decision when he finally does it. Until then, yes, we’ll all hold our breath a little every time he hits the deck, but as long as the player is happy and knows his limits we are fine because the manager won’t push beyond those limits.
So, this is a scare story for the easily spooked. It’s not something people will take seriously. When we didn’t have a backup striker, this was a much bigger concern. But now, with Idah in the building and Daizen Maeda perfectly capable of playing as a frontman—as he proved again yesterday—we’re in a better position to deal with any issues Kyogo might have. Hopefully, within the next week or so, we’ll sign another striker to act as backup in the worst-case scenario.
The other “spooky” story in the media today is about Cameron Carter-Vickers being linked with various teams. That can’t be taken seriously. Celtic may eventually sanction the sale of Matt O’Riley, but that’s because we’re flush in midfield. The idea of sanctioning the sale of Carter-Vickers, however, is so ridiculous it’s absurd. There’s no prospect of it whatsoever.
It’s no surprise that the media is playing these little games, trying to find negatives to focus on. This is what they do, and it’s what they’ll continue to do until the window shuts. But we’re not the ones in desperate need of a full squad rebuild. We’re not the ones suffering an injury crisis right now, even after spending money in key areas. We’re the team that’s banging in the goals and racking up the points, dispatching opponents with ease.
No matter how hard the media tries, there are no dark clouds on this horizon. If the board of directors gets the next fortnight right in terms of signings, every single one of us can look forward to a season that delivers on all our hopes and ambitions.
Personally I’m not a fan of CCV,good player that he is ,but not as good as Bobo Balde .
Interesting comparison! I will grant you that Balde was probably a good bit quicker and a more commanding presence (sometimes an intimidating one too) but he was also a lot more clumsy and reckless than CCV – I wouldn’t like to see how many free kicks and penalties would be given against Balde by the “fans with whistles” in the VAR era.
@ JF. Man, ye are jokin of course !? CCV the more composed and intelligent defender. Big Balde was hard as a coffin nail aye, tho was only as good as his next mistake. Tae the point he was a liability. Far too reckless. Europa final 2003, bein the biggest example. A lot of supporters held Rab Douglas tae blame. No for me ! Balde’s totally clumsy, unnecessary, challenge earned him a red card and seriously weakened us, just when we were startin tae look the more likely tae. Big daft arse ! ( tho ah widnae say that tae his face of course).
LoL (re last sentence)! You have also just reminded me that whilst it was a great trip / occasion, we should have won that game….damn!
Once bumped into him at Gatwick as we were both flying up for a game (me to watch obviously!). One seriously big, strong and fit looking man. Shame how his time with us ended but I think Seville was the end of the road for many (funny how momentum in sports works at times).
I am loathe to use these words but blue skies nothing but blue skies do I see.
I thought BR played a blinder with DM through the middle yesterday.
Elite players guided by an elite manager .
I think even if kyogo had his op we would still coast this season as goals are coming from all over this team .
Hail hail to the champions .
Across the city they are desperately trying to sell their captain but still playing him as captain. Weird set up, must be very motivational.
Their goalie wants a move ant the ranger will sanction that if they get £20m or more, no sniggering at the back… £3,5m plus jillions in add ons when he becomes England’s number one should cover that get out or makes the space shuttle.
When they have Cantwell back (because no other team wants to buy) it will be like having a new player, the papers will say.
Still think we need that third striker in as Brendan clearly wants Mikey to move.
At 29 years of age, Kyogo has been managing his recurring shoulder injury very well so far, and if he had been willing to get it operated on with 4 months off, I would imagine he would have done that at the end of a football season in order to bridge the gap better. Also at his age, he may just decide just to soldier on until he retires. Whatever action he takes I wish him all the best and we can all enjoy his selfless efforts until that day comes.
Come January, after we have won the league, it will be an opportunity for Kyogo to have his operation and get himself ready for the following season. I’m sure the wee man will be considering that scenario. 🙂
Stands tae reason, if this board dae their job and strengthen properly tae help us for a European (realistically europa) campaign, it should and imo would, take care of the domestic part. It’s up tae them.
We won’t have Europa League. New european format means no more drop downs after qualifiers. If you are in the competition proper you won’t drop down to the next tier you are straight out. We have to aim to finish in the top 25 of the 36 man league in the Champions league. Get a play off game which would equate 10 european games & there would be a chance at getting to the last 16 on a play off
@ jay. Wasn’t aware of that. Cheers.
As I’ve said previously ,if Celtic dismantled Real Madrid 5-0 in the final of the ECL , certain SMSM inept scoops would find fault and criticise the performance ! They know nothing .. absolutely zilch ! It is so blindingly obvious that they are hurting badly with the demise of their pet project at the minute and are desperate for a tale or two to take the spotlight off theRangers? If it’s not clickbait manky sludge , they go for other people’s conjecture and total guesswork as to what’s what within Celtic…that’s NOT according to a report !That’s lazy ,banal , pathetic , attempted journalism of the shallowest kind . Man ,their pain is chronic ….
We have good replacements but yet to prove themselves in Europe against teams like hibs lowball going for long ball on attacking Taylor height issues they long throw which ref allows 3minutes to set up that slowed the game down goalkeeper allowed as much time clancy started blowing for least body contact upset they flow of the game refs have to speed up goalkeeper and players slowing game down upsetting the rythmn clancy was very poor
A rugged, versatile, tall, right sided CB with the flexibility to play in a 3 CB defence is a priority for me so no way can CCV go anywhere as he is and will be the lynch pin. That would help Taylor whose more of a progressive wing back than a defender anyway. Cover for or replacement LB is the other defo. Do we need a new DCM and young 3rd striker? Not sure, be nice but more of a want than a need atm.
Completely agree with this.
They (The Scummy Scottish Football Media) will be hoping and preying beyond redemption that The Sevco Huns will be targeting Kyogo in The Glasgow Derby on September 1st and this is the start of the clarion call for this to happen and it will be ramped up in the run up to the said Glasgow Derby…
Still – I’m sure some Celtic supporters ? will still need their sneak preview and aid and abet them to stay alive a wee tad longer !
They are even desparate about Atalanta signing someone else and dumping MOR.
shitebags.