When the final whistle blew on Tuesday night, I tried not to dwell on too many “what ifs” and alternate scenarios, but a few kept recurring and wouldn’t leave my mind.
Chris Sutton articulated one of them yesterday when he asked, “What if we hadn’t sold Kyogo?” My own thought was slightly different: what if we had replaced Kyogo properly?
Then, when the manager had to make his crucial subs late in the game, we would have had Idah to bring off the bench along with Jota, instead of having to bring on Idah and Yang. That might have made a real difference.
For a brief moment, Rodgers seemed to be indulging in similar thoughts at full-time when he talked about needing “a little bit more quality.” Not a lot—just enough to allow us to bring on a better class of player when we need to turn or close out a game.
And once again, our board is guilty of not doing enough—of not doing nearly enough—to back the man in the dugout. But they’ll be more than happy to take the plaudits for his successes when it suits them.
That said, I took solace in one thing, and Rodgers must have as well. The progress has been so obvious, the direction of travel so clear, that only pure fools—the absolute stupidest people in football—would fail to give this man what he needs.
The risk of him walking is too great. The risk of going out of the Champions League before the group stages next season is too great. And the fan backlash would be off the charts. Supporters know what a historic opportunity this is—if we don’t blow it.
Fans can do the basic sums. They know what we brought in this year. They’ll see the final figures in the accounts and know just how much money the club is sitting on. They also know there are tens of millions stacked high in a bank vault somewhere with green and white bonding tape wrapped around them.
For years, though, this board has counted on one thing above all else: a free run of it in the SPFL, knowing that our championship rivals are in a shocking state. Well, yesterday’s news—while almost certainly not the miracle the Ibrox fans are hoping for—changes the equation regardless. That club is about to find itself in the hands of serious people who know what they’re doing.
And although I don’t expect the transformation will be as sudden or as stunning as the Ibrox support believes, even if these people are only semi-competent, even if they’re only semi-focused on the job—unless they’re going in as absolute asset strippers, which I’ll be covering in a separate piece later tonight because I think that’s the most likely scenario—suddenly, complacency is a luxury we cannot afford.
I don’t believe that any investor can go in there and dramatically transform their fortunes. That club operates in a league with very little money, and they’ve already hit their financial ceiling. I don’t see a real, significant, or sustained way for them to grow. And although the media talks about “people with expertise,” do they seriously believe that Celtic lacks expertise? That Celtic hasn’t already explored every possible avenue for growth?
As long as we play in Scotland, our growth is limited. As long as they play in Scotland, their growth is limited for exactly the same reasons.
If there were some magic bullet that could suddenly turn them into a global brand, then by virtue of being their biggest rival and the dominant club in the country, that same magic bullet could be loaded into our gun just as easily—something nobody over there seems to have considered.
Still, for all that, if they even reach a degree of competence—which has eluded them up until now—then we’re no longer facing a shambles. We’re no longer facing an organisation that can’t stop tripping over its own feet.
Although, I suspect they’ll have to deal with deeper cuts than ever before, because any American investor will want to see a profit, it’s not impossible that they find a way to do more with less, simply by being run professionally instead of listening to the maniacs in the stands who demand immediate fixes.
So yes, we have a manager whose ambitions must be satisfied. But now, we also have the potential of a challenger on our doorstep. And while I don’t believe the Scottish media’s hype—some hacks are already getting carried away—only very stupid people underestimate the vast array of possibilities here.
Only very stupid people think they can continue to coast.
I don’t care what it means for them across town. I don’t care if this is an austerity operation, an asset strip, or simply a more professional group taking over and trying to stabilise that club. I don’t care which of those scenarios turns out to be true—so long as we continue to move forward, we have nothing to worry about.
But the people running our club had better be prepared for the possibility that the one across the city might get its act together to some degree. And that means we cannot afford complacency, arrogance, stupidity, or the kind of amateur-hour decision-making for which our board is now infamous and which was exemplified in selling our star striker before a replacement was found, thus advertising us as both desperate and rich at the same time, a lethal combination as we found to our cost.
In case they haven’t noticed, the football department is running like a Swiss watch in spite of their own worst efforts. The manager has taken this team to greater heights than we ever would have believed.
We were within a minute of beating Bayern Munich in Germany. Within a minute. Whether we would have gotten anything in extra time is beside the point—that result alone would have been momentous.
And yet, this board had already given up on that tie, as demonstrated by their failure to properly strengthen the team. That attitude can no longer be tolerated.
Not only do we have a manager to satisfy and Champions League ambitions to realise next season—because the manager believes, the players believe, and the fans believe—but now, there’s the possibility of a genuine domestic challenger once again. These people had better wake up, read the landscape, and recognise what must be done this summer. Playtime is over.
Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images
Our latest podcast episode is up. We called it Just Another Saturday.
I had posted this earlier on the comments section of one of your other articles, but it’s just as relevant after your latest, and very accurate article!
People might read some of my posts and interpret them as a constant criticism of our board for criticism sake!
It is not that at all.
I recognise the fantastic fiscal health of our club, and I applaud those in charge for the glowing figures that we read about.
However, there is no point of having seismic “business” profit, if the product on the park is not kept at the same level.
I completely understand all the factors relating to playing in the SPL, our dominance here, but the financial disparity when we move to the European stage.
Attracting quality players on lesser wages, poorer opposition, poorer league etc etc!?Also the dreadful governance we have here, which contributes in some large part to the financial disparity! ( tv deals, sponsorship etc)
Nevertheless, with the new CL format showing that it is the breath of fresh air, we have waited on for many years, and benefitting clubs like Celtic, WE HAVE to ensure we remain at the top table.
If we do, ( by obviously winning our own league and negotiating qualifiers,) you have the luxury package to attract better players and the riches to bridge some ( small I know) of the disparity. The coaching and tactical acumen of a brilliant manager, who gets the best out of these players, bridges some other disparities!!!!
Like so many, I’ve supported Celtic since I was a young lad, and certainly know our rich and varied history.?
The joy of many triumphs and the hurt from many disappointments.
?So there is no sense of entitlement from me, in any way, shape or form. I love our current dominance and hope that it continues ad nauseam!
Presently, we have an elite ( plenty disagree) manager, and a good squad.?He has returned to our club, put his stamp on it again, and wants to improve every season. He has kept his side of the bargain, thus far!!!
If he had been backed more, in the January window, then maybe we’d be adding more millions to the accounts, by virtue of being in the last 16 of the CL.
The only thing that can derail that, comes from within, those that handle the purse strings and an obvious arrogance/ambivalence towards what is, and has been happening in Sevcoland !!!
We are not asking to spend stupid money or pay silly wages. Just back the manager without stripping his squad, and let us all see what can really be achieved if we dare to speculate in a proper and sensible fashion !
We have the money to do so, which will continue to accumulate, if spent wisely!
This is not the time for us to rest on our laurels…this is the time to confirm, and enrich the progress, since BR returned!
Over to you board! HH
James F — I think you are forgetting about our recent past.
Where we are today is based on the efforts of one guy — AP 2021 / 23.
Limited coach that he may be he transformed us in the space of 6 weeks / 6 months.
Energy / appetite / focus / desire / delivery — he produced when it mattered.
Govan FC — on the look out for grown-ups who can plan.
Why them and not us — they are cheaper / more desperate / less controversial.
As for us — we still have an board / exec team that would struggle to run a bowling club.
Management schoolboy howlers are what they do — CL tent is a classic.
Future — we have huge potential as football grows and changes at bewildering speed.
We just need to stop staring at our shoelaces and chase the opportunities that are out there.
More free pie seats.
CTV — the hospital radio vibe stinks.
Tourist leisure offering — shamefully poor.
Tarmac prairie — 20 year old shop and burger vans …
26 poss 23 county irrelevance — no rule of nature that means it has to be the EPL.
Youth structure — what we need we lose / what we hold we never use.
L/town — half finished / surely we must know someone who is into golf?
B/field — Portakabin look is not what we need.
Proper B team / Proper EUFA U19 alignment.
B Team / Ladies stadium in G40.
Active board / full court press — we might get somewhere.
DD in afternoon nap mode / PL scheming / CEO invisibility — even the CL is a stretch.
10 year plan — 300mill T/O target and a new main stand.
The slope is downhill for us — clubs like us are the only levers EUFA has at the moment.
We just need to see the opportunities and work them.
Real vs Citeh on repeat is not what EUFA or even a Super League need.
If Kyogo had been retained (against his will and his shoulder hadn’t popped) or been replaced it’s doubtful that Maeda would have played through the middle. The big difference in both games was when he played in that position and really disturbed the Bayern defence. I doubt if the tie would have been as close as it turned out to be if Kyogo had stayed or Strelec been purchased,
The manager has taken us further than we believed, but probably for only one more season. I cannot see why he would extend when he knows he won’t be backed as much as he would like and that cash trumps progress. Nothing has changed since the last time he was here. A real shame really
And yet Brendan keeps telling us that he is happy with the board’s backing. So how do you explain that Dan?
All the tribute act have to do is create a team that can consistently beat the other 10 clubs in Scotland to be a real challenger to us so we definitely can’t relax domestically. We are in a good position, could’ve been even better but we are progressing and (it feels like I’ve said this before but…) we are a good window away from being a proper competitive team. We need to back this season up in Europe next year. Give BR what he says he needs.
Would a Kyogo replacement not have needed a year to bed in and get up to full speed. 🙂
If he was poor professional Johnny- then Aye !
Although ahm thinkin about Europe for us, more than any impendin ibrox threat domestically. They might just get the money tae pull them out the hole they’re in and this is when our board need tae step up and provide. Goes without sayin, we need tae make sure we’re stronger for the spl, tae ultimately qualify for the CL.
The board provide Kevcelt 59 –
Not a fuckin snowballs chance of them providing one red cent of their own money…
Park, King, Bennett, Gilligan, & Co. pissing the grandkids inheritance down a black hole they certainly ain’t for sure !