Back to the grind
I’ve several feelings going into tonight’s clash,,
An anger at the transfer window shambles,
A desire to be entertained putting footballing action above boardroom discussions,
A wish for one or two of our stars to grab the occasion and sparkle.
It’s natural to look at games in blocks, this mini block offers two home ties against much lower opposition, almost as if the footballing God’s conjured up easy tests before the hardest of all come game 3. It’s good timing for Jota and Schlupp,,,the later needs two impressive performances to start the next, the former needs to get back perfecting playing on the left wing for two games before the glamour tie of Bayern.
It’s good timing for Brendan who can now focus solely on the football, he surely must think about resting Callum in one of these next two.
I like to imagine Adam will enjoy a couple of lesser matches to try and boost his tally and confidence.
The board will be seeking a Jota pose, Engels stormer, or Reo to wave the magic wand, in order to get the support looking ahead and not scrutinizing the past.
It’s almost inevitable the next 180 minutes shall bear witness to it, his trademarked Statue of Posery was the source of worldwide eruption elsewhere,,it’s unveiling at home shall bring the proverbial roof down and bring many a tear. The Unrepentant Fist is now an instant classic in the lexicon of immortal Celtic images. I do worry a little about the burden to be placed on those Portuguese shoulders come game3, in reality our German winger should really be out to show his countrymen their talent is farflung and not just residing in the Bundesliga.
As for Reo, given him 60 tonight and ten on Saturday, keep him fresh and ready for his last great defining European battle at Parkhead.
Tony the Tiger started on Sunday, he can start against Raith Rovers too please, for I want AJ at his op-TIM-um come next Wednesday, so play tonight then rest at the weekend?
Could I envision a left flank of Schlupp/Jota versus Bayern? I would say Schlupp is two good performances away from stopping Brendan falling back on Greg,,but he hasn’t been playing which suggests being slowly introduced. There’s exceptions, he might be in excellent condition raring to go, and being of Ghanaian genes that wouldn’t surprise me.
If Greg starts tonight I think he starts in the knockouts.
If Jeffrey starts he shouldn’t aim for just a safe debut but rather an eye catching one.
The biggest window is not the transfer window, rather the window of opportunity playing for Celtic provides,,whether that’s for pride, adulation, or for our entertainment .
The signing window has closed, the others shall remain eternally open.
By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
February 5, 2025 3:31 pm
TWISTY
A. Worth remembering that I taught ATHINGOFBEAUTY everything I know.
B. I just wish I knew where she got all the other stuff from!
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I wonder what the percentage split is between A and B?🤣😂😅
BMCUW
Agreed, only 11 at a time. Nonetheless, many have said – myself included – that it was a concern when we were struggling with playing against a press and not scoring enough goals that we needed the new signings to ” turn up”.
It was a legitimate concern too. Especially after the Ibrox mauling.
Thankfully, in January, things have improved.
Just Saying.
Ask an uncomfortable question and you will get an honest answer as I see it. I value my integrity and that is long years of being honest in my social media exchanges.
As regards the censorious tone you felt that was never intended.
What I was doing was informing you and all potential readers of something that clarifies that hoarding as you described it is in fact part of a sensible strategy to minimise the consequences of failing to qualify for the CL.
×
The hoarding idea becomes something to criticise the Board for as opposed to seeing the prudence behind it.
Now should I say silent just because it will be seen through Board supporting glasses or attempt to pass on information that is relevant to a fully informed discourse.
So sorry you got the wrong message that upset you. I’ll try to avoid that when bringing in factors that are intended to clarify.
X Years ago when PL was defending the not signing players until after CL income was assured on the grounds that the consequences of failure impacted greatly on Celtic’s ongoing success my thinking was he has a point but I would try and create a stockpile of cash to cover the cost of failure.
So when I saw that declared at a AGM I saw great significance in it.
Perhaps that is why I thought it important to introduce to the hoarding narrative.
Again apologies and fire away with your questions, in sharing we can perhaps reach a better understanding.
Bobby
As usual the board bashing takes preference at the end of a transfer window, especially when conducted to our liking.
The biggest concern within it, and still find strange that it hasn’t been considered whatsoever is?
Kyogo as we know now wanted to leave for several months. A striker replacement, wasn’t added to many supporters annoyance.
Yet overlooked as if, or even how many current players might be sitting in the boat Kyogo was in?
AJ, CCV, Scales, Hatate, kuhn, Maeda for starters, that’s without the one’s not even within the plans of Rodgers currently or future either at present.
Would like that matter cleared up moreso than anything at present.
Hoping not a potential situation could be arising, but who knows what might be going on behind the scenes?
How did James Forrest react to the most inept performance in a match at Ibrox than I can remember?
(Maybe James will devote a bit of time to examining Brendan’s recruitment at Liverpool and Leicester?…)
“That level of performance is wholly unacceptable and the manager needs to take stock. The gap at the top is no excuse; in fact, the gap at the top is wholly reflective of the respective strengths of the two teams, and the two clubs, and so this defeat is all the more shocking because of it. Nobody should be sugar-coating what we watched today.
It was a shambles.
The manager owes us an apology for presiding over such a colossal failure because his failure to adapt has proved costly…
We lost because the manager got it wrong in every way that matters.”
James Forrest, 2/1/25
No hiding place and no excuses Celtic. Even the boss has questions to answer today. | The Celtic Blog
https://thecelticblog.com/2025/01/blogs/no-hiding-place-and-no-excuses-celtic-even-the-boss-has-questions-to-answer-today/
– I’m away to check the archives for my comment after that dreadful performance.
45 minutes till bus time, mince & tatties plus red wine 🍷 beforehand 😛
Bhoy sits back of the Coatbridge end,getting moved for Bayern game
HI FRODSHAMBHOY unfortunately never made the queen of hearts, wee Joan has been poorly since the weekend, bit better last few days, so we are sitting here in the living room Joan on bacardi and me on some whisky ,what’s not too like👍🍾 thanks for the birthday wishes, you only turn 21 once😎❤❤😎
Just realised the game is available on Celtic TV PPV in the UK tonight! No dodgy sausages required tonight…hopefully!
Rebus67
February 5, 2025 2:55 pm
IQ4,
Joan Baez? Was it not our own Joni Mitchell in Big Yellow Taxi who said:
”Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot”
Mitchell trumps your Baez. 😀
Rebus
—————————
Hi Rebus:
You are of course correctimundo! I am trumped!
Talking of the orange buffoon, and just before we invade Canada, I heard a disturbing story last night and can’t disclose the source, for what will become obvious reasons. The Inspector General of NOAA was fired last week along with all the other IGs. After ten o’clock last night, agents from Musk’s DOGE entered NOAA, and an army of young nerds accessed the computer systems.
Once they gained access to the systems, they focused on downloading personal data on all NOAA scientists who worked on climate change, and on deleting precious scientific data.
Trump’s fascist boot is becoming Orwellian.
Bada
One of the reasons I left 118 was because I only once got my own seat. Corporate would grab them!
Hi bigpacky sorry to hear about wee Joan.
At least you’re making the best of it.
Let us know when she is up to heading to The Queen of Hearts.
We are in Wetherspoons near Chester bus station now.
£1.99 a pint. Extortionate 😁😁
Will MIT need to change his name to MIA –
Mike in America.
Or does Mathangi Arulpragasam have copyright.
IQ4…I felt compelled to post this earlier, alongside an article about the USofA annexing Gaza for redevelopment as a playground for “World People”, whoever the feck that is!! I didn’t in respect of the blog rules but as you mentioned it first, here goes…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/04/trump-elon-musk-federal-government
FRODSHAMBHOY you should have came here I’ll only charge you 1-98 a pint 🍻 😎 hope you are well buddy 👍 👍
Happy Birthday, Big Jim Packy! I hope you and Wee Joan are having a great day! 💚🎉🎆🎂
Can’t understand The Gombeen Man’s relentless undermining of Brendan. I was severely critical of our manager’s tactics and lack of flexibility during the Bigotdome fiasco. I am also aware that he made mistakes at Liverpool and Leicester, and I believe he is smart enough to have learned from these experiences
But my bottom line is – we are highly unlikely to find a better manager if Brendan leaves, voluntarily or otherwise. Doubly so, if responsibility for recruitment of a new manager is the remit of the present Board!
MCAFF cheers pal, hope all is well with you and yours👍❤
IQ4,
I shall take a victory even on trivia!
Sadly, your story is only too believable. The Rebusette says the story is in the Guardian.
BP,
Happy birthday to you. My 79 th is on Saturday, so I know how it feels. I usually take a week to celebrate. Best wishes to the lady in your life. May her health improve. Personally, at our ages, if my wife is no well, neither am I. Vice versa also applies.
Rebus
HI REBUS, thanks for the birthday wishes and your kind thoughts for wee Joan👍👍hope all is well with you and yours❤❤
BP
Happy Hoopy birthday 🍷
MCCAFF
Thanks for that article, mate. I fully respect BMCUWP’s sensible rules for the site, and I don’t want to get into politics.
But the situation here is becoming alarming, with many, many similarities with Nazi Germany in the 1930’s. Trump’s thuggish tactics has virtually all Republican senators and Representatives completely cowed into silent submission. What is not reported in your article is that professional staff, who had keys for offices and passwords for computer systems, were wakened at home in the middle of the night by DOGE agents, then forced to accompany them to their offices, then comply with their demands for access to all systems, including confidential personnel files. This is being done secretively under cover of darkness with no staff present to interfere or stymie them. Apart from anything else, the potential for ID theft is now unlimited for the unfortunate personnel who are victims here.
Auldheid
Fair enough and thanks for the reply.
My main question is what catastrophic circumstances do the Board envisage that necessitate something in the order of £100m in the bank, best estimate currently accepted, and expected to rise by year end? That’s not a contingency that’s the footballing equivalent of an emergency survival fund like FEMA
What businesses, operating in any competitive environments keep 80% or whatever of their turnover liquid?
We must operate the most cautious, conservative, small “c”, financial probity policy short of the gold reserves hoarded in Fort Knox !
Prestonpansbhoys cheers pal 👍💓
McCaff
February 5, 2025 4:17 pm
IQ4…I felt compelled to post this earlier, alongside an article about the USofA annexing Gaza for redevelopment as a playground for “We Are The People”
———————————.
Fixed that for you, McCaff.
HH
Iniquitous IV😊
Just Sayin’
February 5, 2025 4:41 pm
We must operate the most cautious, conservative, small “c”, financial probity policy short of the gold reserves hoarded in Fort Knox !
——————————————
I’m guessing you’ve never been in a pub with LEGGY, and FRODSHAMSBHOY🤣😂😅
I may miss seeing the game live today because I am switching Internet providers. It will be tight. However, as I ponder my misfortune, I asked myself how bothered would I be if BR decided to leave at the end of the season, or even at the end of the following season?
My answer to myself is it depends. It depends in who we get in to replace him. Change can sometimes be refreshing. It certainly was when Ange arrived and when BR presented the second coming(no innuendo intended). Perhaps, long term, the biggest plus of BR’s second term is that he seems to have boosted how much we spend on individual players. Hopefully, this will be maintained for future managers.
In the past (I know!) we could look at up and coming managers in our own backyard. At one point, I had hopes for Barry Robson, Jim Goodwin, Jack Ross but each of these have stalled upwards trajectories. In any case, I would hope that lessons have been learned and that the net is spread widely beyond the Celtic/Irish diaspora.
Any thoughts? Would it be such a disaster to lose BR?
Rebus
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
February 5, 2025 3:31 pm
TWISTY
Worth remembering that I taught ATHINGOFBEAUTY everything I know. I just wish I knew where she got all the other stuff from!
Probably from listening to me all those years ago 😃😃
I IV
Never had the pleasure!
Have occasionally considered looking in on the BRRB inspired reprobate nonsense for a Diet Coke or two.
Don’t know if my sensitive constitution is up to it !
Just saying, AH et al,
A company that is storing cash at the Celtic rate is often a company that is due to be sold, irrespective of “rainy day” theories.
If only I could be on the Celtic Board, I’d know so much, but I am only a humble guesser/bullsh$tter.
Rebus
Happy birthday Big Packy. Don’t lean too close when you’re blowing out your candles, you might singe your barnet. Hugs to wee Joan.😃😃
While we are on the subject of the United States of insanity,
Watched a brilliant wee documentary from the 80s about motels and the people who run and stay in them. I know there’s a few mental places in the world, but if there’s a more bizzare place I’ve yet to see it!
Motel – 1hr 23mins
https://youtu.be/XT0VUPi4vus?si=gXpr6LleSbzpD306
Hope he’s good:
Schlupp arrived on a temporary basis, and according to Alan Nixon of The Sun, Celtic will pay half of his £60,000-per-week Crystal Palace wage while he is in Glasgow.
Happy birthday Packy.
Love and good health to you and the wife 💚 👍
Rebus,
If Celtic are serious about taking the next step up in Europe (and that is the million dollar question – I think they only want to progress as long as Sevco go with them), then BR is not the guy to take them there.
HI SOL cheers pal ,thankfully we’ve got fire Insurance😎😎😎😎❤
Rebus67
As good a theory as any.
As you can see I don’t buy the contingency/rainy day gloss.
As a proportionate response to any catastrophe it is totally overcooked.
Re your mention of BR.
Everyone has their shelf life.
Committed one club men are an exception. Even returning heroes are granted some privileges.
We currently have the right man in situ.
Results acknowledge that.
If he stays the full 3 year term then there can be no recriminations.
If he leaves citing internal issues, we’ll understand. But move on.
BAD thanks buddy.H.H 👍❤
Twisty
Yup
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (To fool trolls)
I’ve set out my views based on actual observation inside CP as well as experience of systems and processes and capacity building and need for root and branch audit.
I doubt Celtic would come out well.
I happen to have had the pleasure of spending time with an ex employee at Celtic who is absolutely scathing about Celtic moral under PL so whilst I try to be balanced I’ve no doubt that as long as that type of management thinking prevails Celtic will not rise above the level they could if there were more enterprising.
As regards actually meeting domestic objectives and improved performances in Europe being.met that is the basis for my argument for enjoying what is as opposed to focusing on what isn’t because what isn’t DOES NOT EXIST except in the minds of those who focus on it.
However there is one factor that might be a brake on what Celtic invest to get regular access to the CL and that is the SPFL, on whom Celtic depend totally becomes irrelevant as a competition and games become Celtic Lions eating skinny Christians or Proddys.
In fact without Rangers it is impossible to give the SPFL the illusion of being competitive hence a possible reason for Celtic not going all in to leap ahead.
Supporters do not gaf about that but as members of the SFA and SPFL it is not something those running the game can ignore.
The interdependent naturfutureootball that I harp on about is the reason and until such times as what this means is fully realised it is an issue that supporters will resist if it means some form of resource distribution.
The idea of ma money going to keep another club competitive is right up against human nature but the reality is no club is independent of its competitors.
Hence this video
https://youtu.be/e4lI8e33U2A?si=0XtbcqnNVRISVltL
can be an anathema even to supporters of a club like Celtic that prides itself on feeding all equally.
Human nature eh? Who invented the idea?
Just Sayin’
February 5, 2025 5:11 pm
You not buying in to the contingency argument is up to you but Celtic do and with good reason as they not have to face the consequences of losing CL money.
How is it overcooked and does the idea of looking ahead at a fallow season and preparing for the eventuality unsound in principle. Is it nuts?
Big Packy
Happy birthday. Hope you have many more of them. Love n hugs to Joan. Hope she feels better soon. 💚
Twisty
Ti’s a pleasure seeing you on here again. I hope all is good with ye.
Rebus
I hope you manage to see the game tonight. It would indeed be a disaster to lose BR. I think of all those who would be delighted if this scenario came to pass. In point of fact, not all of them follow a team wearing blue. Some of them are to be found within the confines of Celtic Park. Oh, flip. I of course mean Parkhead. Sorry BP.😁
As for the board? If the latest rumour is true, it will be confirmation of what I have always thought of them. A bunch of self-serving, avaricious swines, whose greatest pleasure is patting themselves on the back, and telling themselves what a great job they are doing. If BR leaves, this mob will be back in total control of the club we all love. What an appalling vista that would be.
Hail Hail.
BP
Happy Birthday from Seamus and I
MAGUA nice to see you posting👍❤ wee Joan sends her good good wishes👍👍❤
HI MIKE would you believe the pack never got me a birthday present ,no more walks or treats for them😎😎😎❤ hope you and seamus are well👍
INIQUITOUS IV
I wouldn’t like to say. But I do bow to her superior knowledge now and again. Knows her stuff.
Rebus67
February 5, 2025 4:59 pm
Just saying, AH et al,
A company that is storing cash at the Celtic rate is often a company that is due to be sold, irrespective of “rainy day” theories.
If only I could be on the Celtic Board, I’d know so much, but I am only a humble guesser/bullsh$tter.
Rebus
£==
Indeed but rainy day money is not a theory it is a policy Celtic have declared.
It’s real as reported to last AGM.
As something real does it make sense to put all chips on red 2 or keep some behind to keep the player at the table?
It’s the consequences of doing so and losing that kill clubs lest we forget.
bigpacky wee word of warning for you.
Popped in to the Helter Skelter on the way home. Not been in for a while.
Got our usual drinks. Used to be £8.25 now gone up to £9.15.
Use the Bears Paw next time you’re in
Frodsham 😬😬😬😬
Big Packy
Many thanks. 👍
Hail Hail.
Magua
An appalling vista indeed but appalling enough to stop financial support or taking part in a boycott until they have gone?
I doubt it whereby we are caught by the short and curlies.
FFS wee Joan’s sister is here both pissed watching you tube videos of donny osmond 😎FFS its my birthday and im feckin sober, ive asked them to put deep purple or led zeppelin on no chance😁