Controversial Celtic Opinions

As much as it's fashionable to throw brainless statements around when things are not going great (Lawwell with the biscuit tin, board don't care about Europe, club are happy to be just ahead of the huns, we've seen this movie before etc etc), I feel it's vital for fans as a collective to not jump in with the doomsday scenarios so quickly.

It's not just about me being irritated by it, it's more about how this attitude might contribute to a downward spiral of performances on the park. We were lucky getting Postecoglou who absolutely thrived on getting written off, it's what he lives for. But other managers and especially players, may not deal with it so we'll.

So for once I'd love to see the fan base, when things are frustrating and it looks like we're gonna struggle, shelve their frustrations and look for positives. It's not easy at times I know, but it's worth doing if it means we support the club through adversity and help them get back on track.

Obviously all this is seen as 'happy clapping' or 'burying head in sand' or whatever, but I honestly think it's absolutely pivotal. Even if we come up short with transfers and struggle with performances/results, going all out attack on the club ain't gonna solve it.

 

I agree to an extent, but particularly this season that might prove difficult.

Seen a few on here saying "need to back BR, get behind him etc" and while that's all well and good - a lot of fans didn't want him back (and not just because of sour grapes). We levelled up under Ange and became more progressive/modern in the way we operated - from scouting further afield, getting business done quickly and our methods & style on the pitch. Getting Rodgers in is quite literally taking a backwards step - let alone to a guy who quite easily fobbed us off before. Even ignoring how and why he left - the football was predictable and slow, the signings were extremely hit and miss (with more misses than hits) and he stubbornly refused to cycle players in the ruthless way Ange did.

It was a risky appointment by the board (Desmond) and one that had the potential to cause a split amongst the fans. Those who rate Rodgers more highly than me might find it quite easy to get behind this and look at the positives but I felt we really could've gone in a different direction post-Ange and have decided to revert to type. Rodgers ambitions, as well as the clubs, will continually be questioned. Fans will criticise the board for going back to their old ways when we take an age to sign anyone. Fans who weren't wanting BR back will get frustrated easily when the football is slow and he comes out with some bullshit tripe in his pressers. The board really haven't helped themselves with this by not acting swiftly or ambitiously (thus far) in the transfer market. Fans' fears have been ramped up now since that defeat at the weekend and a lack of clear intent.

The board have created this environment by hiring Rodgers. This is the risk they've taken - if we're successful as usual everyone will be happy but the minute things get rough it will be divided and potentially toxic. Calling for everyone to just get along and stay positive - whilst I wouldn't go as far as saying it's happy clapping - isn't going to change that. I'm certainly not as positive about Celtic now as I was at the end of last season and I'm sure I won't be the only one.

 

A lot of this is if's, but's and maybe's though, the fact is that Rodgers is here now so no point wondering what might or might not have been. For the record I was open to a Maresca type appointment and fairly against BR coming back at first. But BR got the job and I got on board.

But the point is; all the anger am seeing could have a detrimental effect on performances, so it's just self defeating. There has to be a belief that things will even out and we can start to build, which admittedly requires a bit of blind faith. It baffles me how folk don't understand that it's in all our benefit to think like this, even if it's for a couple of months into the season.

 

Yet ...

 

Completely agree that it's self-defeating but ultimately the club haven't helped to lift the spirits of the fans with their laboured approach to the transfer market. Most fans will always back the players on the park I feel (I'm not at the games though so can't comment on atmosphere in the stands) but forums are places for us to discuss how we feel about the club. I'm not one to be constantly negative at all but the moans and groans on here are justified just now as we're clearly underprepared for the season ahead (again, as it stands) and this could pour over into the home crowd at points.

Hopefully in 8 days time the club give us all a lift with some significant transfer activity and back Rodgers in a meaningful way.

 

Agreed the club haven't helped matters, and being honest it has not been good enough in any aspect so far. Also, moans and groans and frustrations are understandable, but as has been pointed out by a few people, there is a limit to that. Folk babbling on about the club accepting mediocrity and not giving a * about Europe is just pathetic. There are so many people just spewing hatred and spreading bullshit that it's gonna end up making things worse.

I say put your big boy pants on, accept that things aren't going as we'd hoped, but remember that the word 'supporter' actually means something. Throwing in the towel at this stage is * embarrassing.

 

Made it through the COVID season so it can't be any worse than that... surely..

 

Sinclair was better during his first season here than Jota.

 

Is that controversial? Sinclair was in his prime and got 25 goals from the wing. Think very few players have terrorised the SPFL in their first season like Sinclair did.

 

To be fair jota was only about 16 at the time and playing youth level.

 

Lennon still gets far too much stick from our fans, and are too quick to forget that his penultimate season was pretty good.

 

The board 100 percent trusted ange and gave him total control over transfers.they don't trust Brendan enough to give him total control the way ange had it.

 

Couldn't agree more.

I wish he would show a bit more humility and responsibility for the COVID season, but for some it's like the last 20 years never happened.

Throwing a possible drinking problem in his face is also beyond the * pale.

 

So you think they've went back on their agreement for him to come back? Is that what you think.

They sat down with him and said youve got control Brendan, then when he signed they went, HA only kidding

Or do you think they sat down with him and said you'll do as your told Brendan and * well like it.

Only one can be true.

 

If we fail to win the league this season this might be the last season of CL football for us for sometime.

We are looking at rebuilding most of a team next summer after this bombscare of a window. So won’t make it past qualifiers.

After next year given the state of Scottish football and how well competitor leagues are doing like Turkey I can’t see Scotland holding on to our seeding and therefore automatic qualifying place.

So even if we win the league in future years we will have qualifiers and we are not great at navigating those. They are also always getting increasingly competitive and due to our poor recent European form, our 5 year co-efficient is dire and we will not likely be a seeded team.

Further you can guarantee any UEFA changes will benefit the big leagues over the likes of ours so it will no doubt become increasingly tough for teams from lower ranked leagues to qualify.

Financially, our Board and management of the club are sleep walking in to this which would be very costly for the club and further emphasise how much of a mess they have made of this strong position we found ourselves in.

 

Honestly might be a blessing.

The money is nice, but we never spend it, and we end up getting pumped in at least 4 of the 6 matches.

Europa is less money but I think we could so something there, matches would be a lot more enjoyable as well.

 

Think once everyone settles in a few weeks we could have a really good squad of players and the switch will just click and we will come good again

 

We have actually spent more than usual over the last few years, think even this year we’re up to £16m odd. Add Palma in who’s nailed on apparently it’s up to £20m odd.

If that’s not enough with an extra £30m odd guaranteed, what do you think we’ll do when we don’t have it? Last time it was more a Europa and not pushing to go through qualifiers for CL really was Ronny. Remember what that was like man.

we rarely spend £20m in a window. And don’t think we’ve spent it well. I don’t know if we had Nawrocki and CCV available and not injured, Hatate and to a certain extent Oh as well…. We’d feel better about it I think.

But really, I think the biggest reason none of us are happy regardless of the money we’ve spent and it feeling like we actually haven’t spent much, is because it feels rudderless, feel’s scattergun rather than purposeful and with a plan. And the fact that’s the way we’re playing on the pitch as well, it isn’t good enough.

 

Peter Lawell is a die hard Celtic supporter and genuinely BELIEVES everything he does is for the betterment if the club.

He takes a business man's view to it, and tries to mitigate risks, whilst optimising success on domestic terms only.

He sees the club's evolution and future in financial balance sheets.
Which is why he never should have held the position he did for so many years, too unwilling to say "* it, if the player doesn't work out, then I'll take the hit".

 

I really don't get the Matt O'Riley love in. I don't dare say it in that thread cos they will be after me with pitchforks Even my hubby disagrees with me on him. He reminds me of two halves of a footballer put together at the waist. There's an unnatural stiffness and I never understood where he fitted into Ange's fast free-flowing football. I think he's a wee bit arrogant too. I adored Lustig but he was kind of like that too...... like his legs and upper half looked like they belonged two separate entities I could forgive Lustig for anything