Celtic banter 8

23 Nov 2025 12:20:39
In MONs first time around, when he just joined, can anyone remember what we paid for the Suttons, Hartsons, Lennons etc - pretty much the whole squad for us to go to the final of the UEFA cup? Who was Chairman then - Fergus left in 1999 - and how much would we need to have now to buy players of that ilk? I know that DD was the major shareholder after Fergus sold his shares to him.

{Ed007's Note - Brian Quinn was Chairman 2000 - 2007

23 Nov 2025 12:50:18
Stengo,

approx £6M per head (give or take) .

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23 Nov 2025 12:54:52
Think in the region of £6m each.

23 Nov 2025 13:01:59
Stengo,

I did some quick arithmetic, without checking, and estimate that the starting 11 players for Celtic at the 2003 UEFA Cup Final cost around £26M.


Douglas
Mjallby Balde Valgaren
Thompson Lennon Lambert Petrov Agathe
Sutton Larsson

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23 Nov 2025 13:07:19
At the time I seem to remember the price quoted for Lennon and Sutton was around £6m each and when you compare that to us paying nearly double for Adam Idah and Arne Engels respectively it shows how the market has escalated.

I still believe we can sign real quality within our budget if the scouting and recruitment was better. Celtic need to move away from bargain bulk buys and concentrate on maybe one or two star players each window. Easy said I suppose.

23 Nov 2025 13:14:41
I believe Hartson and Sutton were gambles. Larsson was a phenom and seen as a legend in the footballing world. Hard to compare then and now when football is a completely different game.

23 Nov 2025 13:43:05
£6M in 2001 is worth about £11M in today's money.

23 Nov 2025 13:49:31
Problem is, you certainly got a lot more for your money back then, money has killed the game.

23 Nov 2025 13:51:04
O'Reilly was a star player but a bargain buy? Price is irrelevant. We need a manager who can see a quality player when he sees one!

23 Nov 2025 14:00:08
Cheers for all of the above.

If we take Pedro's figure of £26m for example, a figure like that now would not get us the standard of player we need to make any dent in Europe. Brian Quinn may have sanctioned those amounts but I can't see DD doing that as he wouldn't want to see PL and MN having heart attacks on his watch. DD wasn't as prominent in BQs time and maybe it's because of that he's not sanctioning PL to sign off on a player.

23 Nov 2025 14:04:32
Celtic Mad - that should have happened after the Bayern games and we probably wouldn't be in the position we are at now. Buying a couple of decent players in each window now, would the fans allow that to happen given the amount of players we need? Would we give any new manager the time to do it in?

23 Nov 2025 14:21:03
We always try to buy decent players every window, it's just some manager's definition of decent differs somewhat from others!

23 Nov 2025 12:17:17
I keep hearing people say our players aren't good enough, and while I agree that we need to strengthen in some key areas, I don't agree with the idea that the squad as a whole lacks quality.

I fully admit the team isn't performing well. But I put that down to factors other than ability.

As we all know, the club is in the middle of a civil war, and the atmosphere on and off the pitch is toxic. We shouldn't underestimate the impact this has on both the coaches and the players. On top of that, we have players who don't want to be here and who were hoping to move on in the summer. That affects performances on the pitch and relationships behind the scenes.

To reinforce my point, we only need to look back at the COVID season, when something similar happened. The team massively underperformed and plenty of people said the players weren't good enough. Then a new manager came in and many of those same players who had been written off—returned to a much higher level.

Unfortunately, I don't think changing the manager will have the same impact this time, because the root cause of the toxic atmosphere will still be there. I've no idea how it's going to be resolved. My suggestion is that at the very least Lawwell and Nicholson need to go, and Ross Desmond and his father should stay away from Celtic Park and avoid making statements until this has blown over. But even that won't be enough unless it's accompanied by real change and much better communication going forward.

23 Nov 2025 12:59:19
Calmac and johnstone are the only two real quality players we have the rest are in the range of OK to average to poor.

23 Nov 2025 13:42:28
What about Jota, KT, Kasper, Hatate, Maeda……….

23 Nov 2025 14:13:39
Calmac has been poor for months scoring the odd goal here and there doesn't pull the wool over most of the fans eyes in Europe he's never good enough team has plenty of young players with potential that need game time.

23 Nov 2025 14:25:25
There is no way Lawwell and Nicholson leaving will automatically improve performances on the park 😂😂😂.

23 Nov 2025 14:44:49
But it may help performances off the park.

23 Nov 2025 15:40:50
Will jota be same? Hatate ( he's quality OK average poor and rubbish in one game never mind season also mr inconsistent) maeda both possibly gone this window definitely next. kasper last season I'd imagine.

23 Nov 2025 12:15:02
Imagine we signed a defensive midfielder which allowed callum to play further forward how many goals would he score, that's hot to be a priority signing in January.

23 Nov 2025 12:37:46
We don't actually play with a defensive midfielder at the moment.

The role Callum plays is the regista (deep lying play maker) . While they take up similar position s on the pitch, they have a very different role.

23 Nov 2025 13:09:45
Are Bernardo and Engels not options to allow this?

23 Nov 2025 11:48:54
There's a shocker just round the corner, it's coming hate to say it but you can just feel it coming whether it's Thurs which I expect or our next league game, just got no confidence in the oresent squad, if all fit different story but they're not and we need players in January.

23 Nov 2025 10:54:03
I don't think there needs to be an over reaction to last nights game. We are always a little bit light after an international break. The main thing is 3 points away from home, St Mirren is a tough game.

Just to say I've been calling out Cal Mac for a couple of years now but finally seems to be pulling the team forward. Is it the change in style of play or could it be ONeill telling Calum to go and control the game like he always did?

Again, I agree the midfield is a concern. Have not quite replaced ORiley. Hatate needs to be moved on along with another few. I think Maeda should be moved on as well and take as much £ as we can get for the both of them. I'd imagine £10m for Hatate, maybe £18m for maeda?

23 Nov 2025 12:07:45
On the same page as urself regarding Calmac but b lucky to get £15/ 20m for both Hatate and Maeda a think.

23 Nov 2025 12:18:31
We would have got it in the summer, which is when they should have moved.

23 Nov 2025 10:31:39
No matter which mix of midfielders we we play, Calmac apart, we have no creativity or flair. Knock on effect is minimum scoring chances and very few goals. Wingers ineffective and unproductive. Our pedestrian play and constant back passing last night was shocking.
Realistically, is anyone confident we can rectify these shortcomings in the January sales?

23 Nov 2025 11:45:10
MON and SM have done very well in a very short and turbulent time; however, the poor quality of this squad is always going to emerge. Admittedly, we have a horrendous injury list, but at the end of the day what real star quality do we have at the club at this time? Not a lot!

23 Nov 2025 11:45:37
Callum is the one bright spark in that team he is a true Celtic great, long may it continue.

23 Nov 2025 14:28:22
Calmac is far better when he's allowed to play the ball forwards!

23 Nov 2025 09:58:30
Honestly think we'd be better not bringing the new guy in at the moment, who'd want to come in to this toxic atmosphere better to leave it to the summer and let martin run the show till then,

23 Nov 2025 10:05:49
I'm inclined to agree with you mally but it is shocking that things have gotten this bad.

23 Nov 2025 10:33:35
Martin won't win us the league.
It's always hard coming back after the International break but last night was one of the worst ever.
We need a new Manager in for at least the second half of the season.

23 Nov 2025 11:22:29
I agree with you BuzzBomb.

As bad as the current scenario is, and for me it's as dire as the situation the club was in just before Fergus stepped in and rescued Celtic FC, just over 30 years ago.

This is different, it's toxic and it's not going away anytime soon. Like many, I'm stunned at the arrogance of this board, their complete lack of vision and their utter detachment from the supporters on multiple levels.

Friday's AGM (if you can call it that) only served to pour petrol on an already emotional and disillusioned fire.

Given the circumstances, unless something changes very quickly to redress the narrative, I now think MON being in place until the end of the season would be unfair on him and would likely cost us the chance of winning the league and I'm sure he knows that.

We need new blood in ASAP in the form of a manager and staff, as well as a minimum of 5 first team starters in the upcoming transfer window.

The irony being, had the board sanctioned moves for the appropriate level of players (not those who were signed) in the summer window, the playing side of things would be nowhere near as bad as they currently are and we'd still be in the CL.

☘️ 🍀 ☘️.

23 Nov 2025 11:50:35
It was a hellish week for the club during a volatile and disruptive season so far. That was a very poor performance but understandable under many difficult circumstances. Relieved with the win but very apprehensive about what lies ahead on and off the pitch.

23 Nov 2025 12:02:29
I honestly fear for the Feyenord game this Thursday. Not because of Martin but because It pains me to say this the team as a hole isn't good enough. IMO it's going to take 2 or three windows and a new permanent manager to get us just back to last year quality because a few players have come stagnant in this team And we are not going to replace the full squad in one or two windows.

23 Nov 2025 14:29:26
I disagree Buzz, MON will win us the title if he remains in charge.

23 Nov 2025 09:50:17
If that board don't get players in at the start of January then they really need to go the lot of them we are so short as a squad it's not real, tougher tasks ahead which we won't overcome think hibs away.

23 Nov 2025 08:55:26
Cannot fault Ralston commendable effort. However, he is patently not good enough. No forward momentum at all and constantly passes either back or side. Donovan must be preferred option until Johnston recovers from injury. Awful game yesterday but tremendous result. We NEVER stop. HAIL HAIL!

23 Nov 2025 09:55:17
I thought both our full backs were weak last night leaving Trusty and Scales exposed - although both centre backs were probably our best players against a better organized and more aggressive opponent.
Sad to say that we offered very little in attack because our midfield never competed or created in yet another poor away performance.

23 Nov 2025 10:30:19
Celtic are weak all over the pitch.
Both fullbacks and wingers are poor along with our midfield.

Tounekti is no better than Yang.
Both like to run with the ball but there's Zero end product.

Our recruitment has been shocking.
Balikwisha looks like a guy who isn't interested.
He will be quite happy to sit on the bench with a couple of cameo appearances and then pick up his big wage packet each month.

23 Nov 2025 11:23:58
Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment.

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23 Nov 2025 06:04:35
Celtic go into next months League Cup Final against St. Mirren having only been ahead of them for 3 Minutes in our last 3 meetings but yet somehow still managed to secure 7 points from the 9pts available.

23 Nov 2025 11:27:21
As long as we're ahead of them at the final whistle in the upcoming LCF BuzzBomb, I'd take that.

If our form doesn't change on the pitch and better players are not signed in January, then we're going to struggle to retain our league title and that's unthinkable.

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23 Nov 2025 05:39:06
I noticed when McGregor scored that cracker at Hampden in ET that Hatate just casually walked back to the centre circle whilst his team mates celebrated wildly.
Hatate did the same last night after his Captain got the team a victory with virtually the last kick of the game.

It's obvious that Hatate checked out a long time ago.
I would try and replace him in January because there's not going to be any room for a passionless half hearted passenger for the second half of the season.

23 Nov 2025 07:01:07
Buzz some people only see what they want to see
Go back and watch the end again
Hatate couldn't look more happy for McGregor at the end of the game the players were together and he grabbed hard and hugging him like a proud mate would.

23 Nov 2025 09:41:17
Hatate should be sold we only paid a few million for him if that he's not consistent enough and would raise funds for a new manager to get in a new striker and sell maeda as well before his contract runs down both are uninterested and not playing well get them gone use cash for fresh players who actually want to be here.

23 Nov 2025 10:29:45
For more than a year Hatate looks half hearted When teams countering on us he can't/ is unable/ doesn't want to get himself back. Of ten attempted line breaking passes maybe two are completed. One piece of quality every 8 games is nowhere near it. I couldn't understand why Brendan stuck with him and now Mon.

Every game started against a more physical opponent he is a msn down. Been frustrating life out of me for at least a season. His best ever form for us was when he joined so it is a case of seeing what you want to see.