Twitter told me this morning that it is only two weeks since Celtic secured the Treble Treble.
That didn’t seem correct.
Perhaps my miscalculation of time is the effect of withdrawal symptoms as I’m lacking my regular fix of the Hoops.
It could also because the recent narrative on Planet Fitba has been so negative for Celtic.
I have already dealt with how the Stenography Corps has reported on the Celtic Boys Club story.
A cynic might conclude that their reportage was, in part, due to some high-Level deflection operation.
However, I’m not that cynical dear reader.
As was seen last summer the SPFL champions are capable of the most ludicrous acts of self-harm when it comes to recruitment.
That problem does not seem to have been eradicated.
The leaking of the transfer list from Celtic has done real damage to the champions.
Despite it being immediately slammed on green message boards as a fake it only took me a few phone calls to have the document authenticated.
I’m told that it is the belief within the club that many of those signing targets cannot now be pursued.
Quite simply, if the other side knows how much you want a specific player then your negotiating position is already compromised.
As to the identity of the leaker to question must be “cui bono?”
Of course, as a journalist, I cannot be sniffy about leaked documents.
However, the victim of the leak, in this case Celtic, also has a legitimate interest in making sure it doesn’t happen again.
The absence of club football allows the back pages to be full of feel-good stuff about the Ibrox brand.
Here are a couple of crackers from the archives.
Such pishful thinking goes down a treat with the Ibrox klanbase and it works every time.
Of course, this is much easier for the Stenography Corps than drilling down into the detail about the upcoming share issue or the Ashley retail case.
Wiping millions in liabilities off the books in a debt for equity swap will assist the Sevco cause apropos compliance with the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.
You may recall at the time of the Off Licence Putsch in 2015 that Mr David Cunningham King and his colleagues stated that they wanted to avoid a situation where one person would have a controlling interest in the Engine Room Subsidiary.
However, small shareholders in RIFC are about to see their shareholding massively diluted.
Some of them might even be convinced to vote for it.
Oh dear…
Of course, the share issue will not provide any new money for Mr Let’s Go as he seeks to strengthen his squad.
It should not need to be stated that the basket of assets didn’t win a trophy last season.
Indeed the seven-year-old club has yet to win any top honours.
Moreover, the Sevco High Command will be praying that Ashley does not score big in the High Court.
I have already reported on the sum that Sports Direct has asked to be awarded.
Whatever the decision in that costly legal battle Celtic will still have the largest football budget of any club in Scotland by quite some distance.
Dear reader, I hold to the controversial view that having much more money than your opponent in professional football does confer a sporting advantage
Consequently, the only club that can topple Celtic in Scotland is Celtic.
That is something that should be concentrating minds in the Parkhead boardroom.
Two weeks ago at Hampden, a team running on fumes got over the line.
The 9IAR season is not the one for the chap carrying out the transfer negotiations to use it as an opportunity to prove to himself how devilishly clever he is.
A source close to the Celtic manager told me yesterday that the Armagh man wants at least FIVE first team starters to meet their new teammates during pre-season training.
That does not seem to me to be an unreasonable request.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Two weeks ago at Hampden a team running on fumes got over the line.
Thanks to a cheat who dived for a penalty.
Do I smell the noxious odour of sour grapes? Ha ha ha. HH
Sorry, stonewall penalty…but i feel your pain!
Nurse!!!! The meds!!!! Quickly!!!!
We know the level that congerton operated at and his signings were woeful at best. Makes you wonder what kind of relationship he really had with BR.
We need to sign this boy from Motherwell, a shoe in with good coaching as replacement for Broony who’s on his last. RB and CB definitely. Maybe an out and out poacher for Eddy and Griff to feed off. Bayo is unknown and could turn out to be a prize asset, you never know.
Callum, Jamsie, KT, Jozo, Ntcham, Bain, Ajer, The wizard, Christie all starters so you’ve got to be thinking back up.
We have Arzani, Oko flex, Mikey, Dembele and maybe young Church all knocking at the door as well as Maryan.
I’ve not even mentioned some bit part players and I see strength, talent, experience and nous.
4 players max to add. I hope there’s more but I’ve always been a dreamer.
Going for 9 HH
Five first team starters? In addition to securing additional signings for squad depth for existing starters (i.e. KT)? That seems… a bit much. I can’t see the team needing more than 4 new starting 11 players, and that assumes 2 of them are at center back. The other two being Lustig’s replacement at RB and another midfielder to play alongside Broony. I’m not seeing where the 5th starter would come, or even the 4th if we’re not getting 2 CB’s. If Lennon wants another striker, where does that leave Griffiths or Bayo? not even making the bench most weeks, and that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. Likewise, we’ve got more wingers than we know what to do with (hate him all you want, but BR was right about that!). And our attacking midfield is just as crowded.
Anyway, this Celt is glad the transfer list was leaked. Most of the reported names on it weren’t going to improve the squad, and if the publication of the list means we have to go find new targets then it also means we’re not automatically wasting the club’s cash signing players who won’t see the light of day except at Lennoxtown.
I don’t hate him, he was superb and we were lucky to have him, my own opinion and I don’t expect everyone or anyone to agree!
James Justin was always pie in the sky if Celtic thought they’d get him cheap. I also follow Luton Town, my home town club, and they are shrewd in their recruitment and sales. The club has gone from the conference to the Championship in 5 years after recovering from years of financial mismanagement by rip off merchants milking the club (never liquidated mind). JJ is a local boy, managed and advised well. He loves Luton but he is also pragmatic and I can see him leaving this year. But, he is also already being touted as a future England international. He was in the League 2 and League 1 teams of the year in sequential seasons and reports down here already have a number of EPL clubs bidding, starting at 7.5 million plus add ons. All this list did for me was highlight the short sightedness of Lee Congerton and show why he had to go.
There appears to be much confusion amongst the Rangers support about the latest Sports Direct court action.
There is lots of talk of paying a quantum of £1m to see Big Mike off the premises once and for all.
Oh, if that was only true they would be in clover.
It’s hardly surprising that they are confused because in the notes to the last audited accounts King stated that the relationship with SD was terminated with a £3m payment to SD.
It’s already been ruled in court that Rangers have breached the contract they had with SD and Hummel and Elite will be grateful for the get out of jail cards that they have with Rangers which I believe protects them from the wrath of Sports Direct and any potential financial penalties will be absorbed by Rangers rather than the other companies in the supply chain.
If, as per your previous articles, the quantum is 8 figures then ST monies will be severely dented and with Kingco maxed out a hurried fire sale will be required.
Will Ashley save the day with a £20m offer for the Colombian? Methinks not as he would rather have Kingco sweat it out.
It’s remarkable, or perhaps not, that the fabled £20m potential bid from Newcastle is not being scrutinised by the Scottish media.
Does anyone think for a moment that with Ashley and Kingco at war that the Geordies are going to spunk £20m on Morelos so that Rangers could clear any damages/breach of contract bill coming their way?
If anything it’s an opportunity for Ashley to hold Kingco’s feet to the fire and take Morelos/Tavernier, or both, without any cash changing hands.
Presumably the latest Close Bros loan will also have to be repaid from ST revenue to add to the woe and a repeat of last season”s Europa run will be required to match the vital additional revenue which that generated.
Ashley is pretty close to concluding a deal to sell NUFC to an Arab investment group. I don’t think he will be doing any transfer business with anyone.
Five first team starters? I’ll be amazed if we get two. The leaked list lets us know what to expect. I do wonder if NFL isn’t overly disappointed at the leak.
“Pishful thinking”……..class! 😂