The change in the mindset of football fans .

F

Frank Owen

Well-known member
The heading for this thread could, in reality, cover many subjects for discussion; in truth, football fans can be as fickle as a one night stand ! However, the recent speculation regarding JJ and GG moving on has, once again, highlighted what, for me, is a massive change in the way we think about our club in particular, as well as the game in general.
Don't get me wrong folks, this isn't a case of some auld geezer longing for the return of the days when just pulling our beloved jersey of over their head was enough for some kids born and raised in our wonderful wee country: no, I'm too long in the tooth to believe in utopia .
We now, ( myself included ) speculate as to how much profit the club will earn as a result of successfully finding the proverbial gem plying his trade in some far flung league. Again, I totally get it: it is what it is; but I think it can also be said it's the very definition of short-termism.
Alas, it has to be said, we have also lost out on some of our most promising youngsters who chose to seek a different career path elsewhere. That, of course, is entirely as it should be: they had every right to make that choice.
Probably doesn't need to be said; but what this situation really tells us, is that the scouting department is absolutely vital to the continued success of our club; whether us auld geezers like it or not.
Wouldn't it be nice though, if we found a Calmac, or a Forrest ?...or even another KT ?

Ano, Ano, nostalgia is a thing of the past!

Be nice to each other .
 
Realism set in for me years ago……we are a selling club, there nae money in the Scottish game, we are unable to compete with big boys of Europe, yes we may land a lucky blow every once in a while and give the Barcelona’s of the world a bloody nose, but in reality we’re Southampton’s feeder club, we need to sell our players while their stock is high, JJ has had a magnificent World Cup, far better than I ever expected, we got him for £3.5 million, I’ve seen respected sites now quoting him as a £30 million player he totally shut down Neymar in the Brazil game, the big boys are sniffing about him, another fine performance v Argentina and that figure is achievable

Players come and go……but they always leave a wee piece of their 💚 at paradise

https://twitter.com/x/status/1601241831798251520
 
Don’t think there is any club in the world that is not a “ selling club” one way or another. For me it’s how we manage the team development and we seem for once to be on top of that with Ange unlike as the 10 unraveled it was quite clear any planning had gone out the window.
Control of the process is what we need and at least we seem to have that just now, but it is easily lost, Mr Lawwell please note.
HH
 
I have become resigned to the fact that Celtic have to sell to keep ahead and now that Liewell is at the forefront again (he never went away)it will only increase.With huge bonuses to the board AGAIN.On another point having watched the WC and not seen a accidental hand ball being punished.I hope the MIB are watching and if they do not toe the line like the rest of the World I am sure our board will respond (H,mm).Seasons Greetings to everyone on the noise.🙏☘️💚🎄
 
Unfortunately we are a huge, small-market club; constrained by the limits of the league we are trapped within. There is only so much we can afford to pay a player within the context of income and salary structure.
The signing of Alistair Johnston reflects the reality that JJ is probably moving on this year. However, AJ is something of a utility defender as he has considerable experience at CB as well but when you consider the types of offers undoubtedly coming in for JJ and the level of wages they will involve you can hardly blame club and / or player from embracing the financial realities.
When KT left I felt bitterness and betrayal but that was more selfish than KT's decision. A player like KT who obviously dedicated himself to being the best is going to want to play at the highest possible level and the amount of effort and dedication he put in deserves the highest possible reward.
JJ will move on probably sooner than later; end of the season would be my guess. But, given his current profile, our league position and the limits to game time his presence would put against AJ's development I wouldn't be surprised if he goes in the next window. Particularly given there's no more Euro football demands on the squad or showcasing opportunities this season.
If the significant transfer fee is transparently applied to providing Ange with the best available players and coaching staff and improving facilities for team and fans alike, rather than lining pockets, I can see no reason to be upset.
 
I dont mind us selling players on and the club making something out of it, but what I detest is our way of buying at the last minute and hoping for the best, very rarely works out, and thankfully Ange seems to have been allowed to change that aspect of our business, if we continue along that path we will progress I've no doubt.

I know we have lost a lot of young talent in the last couple of yrs to some big clubs, that tells me something is going right at the academy, my hope obviously now is we can start to bring a few into the first team squad under Ange's tutelage and really start to reap the benefits of our Tommy's vision of a Celtic Academy in the not to distant future.
 
50 Shades of Green said:
I dont mind us selling players on and the club making something out of it, but what I detest is our way of buying at the last minute and hoping for the best, very rarely works out, and thankfully Ange seems to have been allowed to change that aspect of our business, if we continue along that path we will progress I've no doubt.

I know we have lost a lot of young talent in the last couple of yrs to some big clubs, that tells me something is going right at the academy, my hope obviously now is we can start to bring a few into the first team squad under Ange's tutelage and really start to reap the benefits of our Tommy's vision of a Celtic Academy in the not to distant future.
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I think we really struck gold with the appointment of Ange. There are nothing but glowing reports from those who played under him and worked with him at every level. Him having managed in Japan is a huge plus factor also imo. Look at the reports of the Japanese team in Dubai, cleaning their own dressing room and leaving origami pieces and thank you messages for their hosts.
The Japanese footballing principles of respect, sportsmanship and honour are totally in sync with Ange's philosophy and he has brought that to Celtic. He's a man with a vision who wants to build a footballing legacy and he improves our club and the game in general with everything he does. In years to come I think he will be compared in that regard to Jock Stein and Bill Shankley, not necessarily in terms of achievements but more so philosophy and influence. I also have no fears of him abandoning us for greed or in pursuit of apparent glory. I'm quietly confident we can relax and enjoy the development of the Ange Generation that is to come.
 
Bellshill bhoy said:
Realism set in for me years ago……we are a selling club, there nae money in the Scottish game, we are unable to compete with big boys of Europe, yes we may land a lucky blow every once in a while and give the Barcelona’s of the world a bloody nose, but in reality we’re Southampton’s feeder club, we need to sell our players while their stock is high, JJ has had a magnificent World Cup, far better than I ever expected, we got him for £3.5 million, I’ve seen respected sites now quoting him as a £30 million player he totally shut down Neymar in the Brazil game, the big boys are sniffing about him, another fine performance v Argentina and that figure is achievable

Players come and go……but they always leave a wee piece of their 💚 at paradise

https://twitter.com/x/status/1601241831798251520
Click to expand...
Christ, you're a right wee ray of sunshine aren't you? Southampton's feeder club? not any more bud.
 
Theta Sigma said:
Christ, you're a right wee ray of sunshine aren't you? Southampton's feeder club? not any more bud.
Click to expand...
Aye mate, we just might bypass Southampton with JJ and sell direct to a big club 🤣🤣
£50.5 millions inc sell on add ons from 4 players sold to Southampton, they are the ONLY club we have sold more than 1 player to…..if that isn’t feeding them……what is ? 🤷‍♂️
 
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I have finally become accepting of the fact players move on much more quickly in the modern game. That is the way it will be now. But it is important the revenue generated, is invested in the playing squad and club infrastructure development. Not in the pockets of major shareholders, extraordinary salary payments to CEO's nor to fill the pension pots of big name players past their sell by date. We are on the right track finally with this model. So I hope it is going to continue as such going forward.
 
Frank Owen said:
The heading for this thread could, in reality, cover many subjects for discussion; in truth, football fans can be as fickle as a one night stand ! However, the recent speculation regarding JJ and GG moving on has, once again, highlighted what, for me, is a massive change in the way we think about our club in particular, as well as the game in general.
Don't get me wrong folks, this isn't a case of some auld geezer longing for the return of the days when just pulling our beloved jersey of over their head was enough for some kids born and raised in our wonderful wee country: no, I'm too long in the tooth to believe in utopia .
We now, ( myself included ) speculate as to how much profit the club will earn as a result of successfully finding the proverbial gem plying his trade in some far flung league. Again, I totally get it: it is what it is; but I think it can also be said it's the very definition of short-termism.
Alas, it has to be said, we have also lost out on some of our most promising youngsters who chose to seek a different career path elsewhere. That, of course, is entirely as it should be: they had every right to make that choice.
Probably doesn't need to be said; but what this situation really tells us, is that the scouting department is absolutely vital to the continued success of our club; whether us auld geezers like it or not.
Wouldn't it be nice though, if we found a Calmac, or a Forrest ?...or even another KT ?

Ano, Ano, nostalgia is a thing of the past!

Be nice to each other .
Click to expand...
Great post Frank

Of the younger bhoys coming through we've seen Ralston and Welsh step up lately.
Ralston always had something about him but since Anges appointment he seems to have added some real quality to his game, perhaps training alongside JJ has helped him.

Welsh I think has been used more out of necessity rather than a true reflection of where he really is at .
Still both have performed admirably Ralston has been capped so that's real progress.

Whether or not either will hit the heights of KT or Forrest only time will tell.

The fools that run the game here have left our clubs unable to compete with those in Holland and elsewhere with the paltry sponsorship deals , each one heralded as the best we've ever had and 'record deals' when reality shows they are less than Finland's and Scandinavian countries.

We need better leadership in that department.
Why they are unable to sell the game here and the derby for more money highlights their failures and the Sydney super cup is a great example of that and how we can look after ourselves better and have to rather than waiting on the SPFL to deliver another "record deal'.

Sometimes our recruitment team dont get the recognition they deserve.
They've uncovered incredible talent and brought in equally incredible transfer fees for VVD, Dembele, Edouard , KT the list goes on.
Truth is we shouldve had double the amount at least for those players than we did.

Where it not for them the position we'd be in doesnt bear thinking about.

We shouldnt be in this position and we should be able to sell at the same prices of Ajax for example who sold two players for in excess of €100 million to man utd recently.

Until Celtic, rangers and the rest take control of our own destiny we can unfortunately look forward to more paltry ' record deals ' while our recruitment team scour the planet , Japan, Canada, Australia, Korea .
It's a sad indictment of those who run the game here.
 
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I found some interesting stats about attendance at football games as a % of national population. In Scotland 3.6% of the population regularly attend matches. In England the figure is 2.79. The only places with a higher % are Faroe Islands 10%, Iceland 4.22% and Cyprus 4.03%.
We are one of the most football mad nations in the world and have one of the worst TV deals in Europe.
The people running our game do it and us a great disservice.
Dont know if this is true or not but someone said to me that Celtic made more from Sydney Cup than they do from Sky. Is that true?
 
JJ speaks on transfer speculation

“Honestly, I haven’t read what was written since we arrived. We’re just focused on the national team. I even told my agent not to send me anything, I’m not interested at all right now. I want to do something for myself, my future sons and daughters, I want to tell them the story of what we did and to be proud.

“I may not be a player worth 20-30 million Euros, but you must know one thing. I never gave up, even when I was in Hajduk and Dubrava, nor in Celtic, nor in Croatia. My parents taught me to look forward. Life tells strange stories, I stuck to my point that I needed to prove myself on the field.”
 
tictastic said:
Sheesh! I`m still upset about us selling Paddy Crerand ffs!!
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Ha Ha I can't believe someone else thinks like me about Paddy Crerand after all these years. I was still at school but knew how much we would miss his skills especially picking out a pass anywhere in the field.
It was only recently watching a documentary on him on ManU TV that he said Celtic sold him he didn't ask for a move, like they did to so many talented Celts.
I should of known that as it was the Kelly/White days.
Why do I think of Trump when I think of the Kelly/Whites days?
 
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