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Celtic Diary Monday January 27 2025: Aiming For The Stars ?

The weather beat Celtic at the weekend, with damage at Celtic Park due to high winds causing the late postponement of the game against Dundee.

 

Let’s be honest, the players and management were probably glad of the break, although criticism did come in from some quarters as it was Saturday morning before a decision was made.

 

It couldn’t have been made any earlier, as not clambering on the stadium roof in the dark with a hoolie blawin may be seen by some as health and safety gone mad, but spotting holes in the roof by falling through them probably isn’t the most effective way of establishing whether or not the game could go ahead.

 

All of which meant that fans could focus on the ins and outs of the transfer window, especially the arrival of prodigal son Jota, the Portuguese winger who hasn’t set the heather alight since he popped over to the middle east to earn a paltry quarter of a million pounds or so a week, tax free.

 

Clearly miserable being able to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to, Jota moved to Rennes in France where , for whatever reason, he didn;t make the grade, and is now somewhat more enthusiastic about a return to Glasgow.

 

A player like Jota could never have prospered in a side struggling to avoid relegation, as Rennes are, and hopes are high that after a bedding in period, we’ll get something similar to what we thought we’d lost.

 

Jota, Maeda Kuhn as a front line is potentially as good as any we’ve had in recent years.

 

Heading to Rennes is Kyogo Fuhruhashi, although there are rumours that he has failed his medical, which may have something to them, and also a rumour that after fifteen minutes with his new colleagues and surroundings, the Japanese forward flung himself down some stairs trying to land on his shoulder.

 

With this perennial injury, and his relatively advanced age of 30, it may be that he was advised to seek out his last big contract before the injury worsened to a point that he would miss out on his last payday.

 

Perish the thought.

 

Meanwhile, Keiran Tierney, who , er, left Celtic to get a deal that set himself and his family up for life before his hip finally disintegrated, will join Celtic either this week or in the summer, depending on how quickly Celtic can install wheelchair access to the dressing rooms.

 

 

There are other names in the frame, such as Brondby forward Matthias Kvistgaarten, but that looks more likely to be a summer acquisition, if the player still fancies a move to Scotland, that is.

 

Worryingly, depending on how you view our board’s ambition this season, it does look like we’re waiting until the summer for a major incoming , and we will go with Jota, Maeda Kuhn as our main firing line.

 

This week, Celtic travel to the exotic city of Birmingham, a lump of rubble just off the M6 and M5.

And M42.

And M54.

 

City planners bowed to pressure back in the sixties and seventies and built several high speed roads to enable people to get out as quickly as they can.

 

Celtic are in the next round of the UCL whatever happens, which means that the pressure is off, although there is certainly something to play for.

 

Instead of a draw for the next round, teams are arranged according to their final position in the 36 club table.

 

 

As this table explains, Celtic can finish anywhere between 5th and 23rd, depending on their own and other results. Much better than the old four team group style, as it keeps everyone interested.well, as long as you’re still in it, I suppose.

 

 

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How we approach the Villa game will indicate whether or not we’ve reached our target in the tournament of just making the knockout rounds, and let’s face it, we’d have been happy with that, but now we’re here, surely we should give it our best shot?

 

 

In itself, the sale of Kyogo indicates that we are happy enough where we are, but it does fuel the theory that he may have left to get that contract before any further injury….

 

 

On Thursday, we had this….

 

 

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Woof Charlie
 3 days ago

Caption: Relief at Celtic as some bits of KT’s body found in the Arsenal physio storeroom are dropped off by courier. 

 

 

Today

 

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Monti
17 days ago

Unless we have something up our sleeve ( namely a striker ) selling Kyogo in January is lunacy.
Listen if we sign Tierney, Jota & Kvistgaarden in this window I will be very impressed, however I just don’t like the way this has been handled.

Kyogo leaving for a relegation dog fight in France while Celtic are through in the CL?

I can smell shiiite

Woof Charlie
17 days ago
Reply to  Monti

Could it be the smell of contractual salary increase due to goals/appearances met but not honoured…..

Damian Smyth
17 days ago
Reply to  Monti

As BR said Kyogo had sought to leave for months , it’s highly possible that Celtic Board agreed a compromise that he could go if Celtic’s valuation was met after Celtic had qualified for last 24 in C L .
it appears Kyogo was desperate to leave as he has agreed to join a team fighting relegation in France

Benjamin
17 days ago
Reply to  Monti

Even if we don’t end up getting Tierney and Kviatgaarden over the line this month, we will have strengthened the squad overall in the Jan window. Jota and Kyogo is likely a push. There’s benefits to the club with bringing back Jota – he’s much younger, and he shores up a position where Celtic have basically nobody of any quality after the two players who were automatic starters – but in terms of goals and assists it’s basically a wash. But that’s not the entirety of the business Celtic have done this window…

Go back to Jan 1, and the first deal that was announced by the club was Johnny Kenny being recalled from Shamrock Rovers. We knew (the club, not the fans, LOL) Kyogo was likely to be gone at the end of the month, and bringing in Kenny is at a minimum positional cover. In terms of quality, I would actually argue that he’s EXACTLY the kind of player Celtic would be looking to buy to replace Kyogo if he weren’t already on the payroll. He’s got 7 goals and 1 assist in European competition this season in 645 minutes. That’s basically a goal per game in Europe, and everyone’s forgetting that we added him to the squad this month because he’s barely been given a chance in a Celtic shirt. If Celtic go with some combination of Kenny/Maeda/Idah through the middle, and a combination of Maeda/Jota/Kühn out wide, Celtic will be just fine. Adding Kvistgaarden to that mix would be fantastic, but this is hardly an impotent front line right now even after swapping Kyogo for Jota.

TicToc
15 days ago
Reply to  Monti

“I can smell shiiite”
I thought that was something Sunni muslims may have said if strangers entered their mosque. 🙂
I’m sure you’re right though, there’s something more than a wee bit strange in all this but I just see Lawwell…..incoming money……DONE! (Totally regardless of supporters wishes as usual, where there’s shiiite there’s Lawwell.)

Mcklintop
17 days ago

Nick Walsh’s parents dropping him off at Tannadice after serving at mass.

Mr Spudatohead
17 days ago

Caption: “Darling, I think next time we’ll go with no roof…”

BJF
17 days ago

The conspiracy between Celtic and God to rest our players for the Villa game worked out. Surprised the brethren didn’t suss that out. Kyogo has never been impressive away from home in Europe, has he scored in any CL away games? I love the wee man but he doesn’t suit Brendan’s style as much as Ange’s. No player bigger than Celtic.

Bartly Cole
17 days ago

Ooohh Jack, it such a lovely day, can we take the Caddy Convertible instead?

Drew67
17 days ago

Clash of styles of play with Rodgers and Kyogo.both didnae fancy the others

the real Anton Rogan
17 days ago

In ye get hen. I’ll tell the driver to take the scenic route

Pat Higney
17 days ago

Caption : “Quick Jackie! Jump in, that wind would blow yer heed aff!”

Woof Charlie
17 days ago

Caption: Of course they’re not lacy knickers darling that’s the Ronco© travel mantilla with handy air vents for tropical climes I bought you as a surprise.

David Holden
17 days ago

For God’s sake get in the car The. Rangers are coming.

Cartvale
17 days ago

Caption
Quick Trumps coming

Kyogo is a loss but it’s a team game, he is carrying an ongoing injury, he wants a last pay day, why deny him that?

Celtic needs strengthening and it is down to the manager to demand what he needs, onwards and upwards.

tony carlin
17 days ago

sad to lose Kyogo but I felt that he has been a wee bit out of sorts for a while, with a glass shoulder maybe he wants to get away from the hammer throwers whilst still intact

RunSammyRun
17 days ago

Keep the heid big man, ah’m getting in as quick as I can.

Woof Charlie
16 days ago

See the site got suspended earlier, big Phil’s the man to appeal that.

Owen Mullions
16 days ago
Reply to  Woof Charlie

The World Is texting about it!

Shimaloo
16 days ago

The Blackwatch wouldn’t dare terrorise THAT woman, coming out of Mass….

Tommybhoy
16 days ago

It has been a while but I eventually found my way back.

Owen Mullions
15 days ago

Took time off the game at half-time to find Stevie G has been ‘resigned’ in Saudi Arabia. What a shock!

TicToc
14 days ago
Reply to  Owen Mullions

Owen, did you say ‘resigned’ as he was unable to resign himself, having just paid the Saudi ‘penalty’ for having his fingers in the till? And all this to pay multi- “Mullions” to jet in Tavernier, Barron…..sorry can’t finish this as pissing myself thinking about the SMSM’s unique spin on another ex-Sevco manager being found out at substantial cost. I really wanted the truth out that Rangers FC died and Sevco was/is a con trick but given the sheer ‘volume’ (both meanings) of laughing at them out loud I’m now not so sure and this is better.
Some great football from us last night and brilliant to see Adam Idah score 2 cracking goals to get us level after a shocking start. Game could’ve gone either way as we had them worried but we’re just so good at shooting ourselves in the foot. Anyway, a few days to prepare for the rest of the season and next year’s Euro qualifiers.
Either way, get Lawwell “resigned” Saudi style for having his fingers in that huge till created by Celtic FC supporters but abused by capitalist scum like him.

Iancelt67
15 days ago

Engels bullied off the ball by mcginn the turning point. Big players missing would’ve given us a better chance. Big Idah great.

TicToc
14 days ago

Can anyone explain to me the reasoning of subbing Liam Scales to bring on Dane Murray whose last game was for Queen’s Park? The game was a very possible draw and potential win even at 2-3.
And Daniel Cummings, last game in Lowland League, for Idah! Is Brendan letting the fat slug know that he can’t work FN miracles? Will the fat slug listen?
Why oh why does Celtic FC have to be like this? We, or those of us with the ability to think and reason, understand! The FN Board but especially Lawwell whose consistency in dragging us down makes you wonder. Can he not deal with the demise of ‘the company across the water’ which pretends to be the DEAD Rangers FC and the demise of his darling, now defunct Old Firm? What an assehole!
What a cost to Celtic FC.

Michael Tate
13 days ago
Reply to  TicToc

Can anyone explain to me the reasoning of subbing Liam Scales to bring on Dane Murray whose last game was for Queen’s Park? ‘

Zat ze game is rigged, perchance par hasard ..?

Yoker Bhoy
14 days ago

We showed character in that first half after such a disastrous start when we bounced right back with two brilliantly worked goals. We seemed to peter out in the second half and I suspect both Idah and Scales came off after taking nasty knocks but the bench was certainly much weaker than usual and none of the subs made the impact we wanted. Looking at the big picture, we’ve enjoyed some great moments during this campaign and it’s a big step forward to qualify. Hope we get Bayern in the play-off as they’re not at their absolute best right now and Real Madrid are simply unstoppable atm. Badly need quality reinforcements, especially a striker and also to give Yang a free transfer to Montrose or East Fife.

Woof Charlie
14 days ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Chuffed for Idah who played to his strengths with 2 great poacher goals with the supply he will get from Khun/Jota/Johnson/? Tierney he could score a barrow load more wide quick balls into the 6 yard box and a bit less sideways tippy happy around 20 yards would suit him fine

Yoker Bhoy
14 days ago
Reply to  Woof Charlie

Agreed. Just hope we get a nice surprise during what’s left of the windae and the club show some real intent but I won’t be holding my breath.

Michael Tate
13 days ago

‘I don’t think we’ll manage in here, John, the doors are on backwards and you’ll keep banging my head off the window.’

’It’s NOT what your wee cvnty can do for you, it’s what I can do for yer wee cvnt ye.’

Last edited 13 days ago by Michael Tate
Michael Tate
13 days ago

I’ll get you next time, ya bad backed hurmurseckshuell ponce.
And no will ever suspect-, despite seeing yer brains scatter up and to the left, ya skeltorblijchoorbag, and them watching me stash the little .45 behind the seats in the interim.
Amazing what folk miss, and what we get away with.’

Last edited 13 days ago by Michael Tate
TicToc
13 days ago

I never thought I’d be glad to draw Bayern, from the point of view of progressing, but I think it’s a better draw than Real Madrid. Now FFS Celtic, help our manager with some inspired, last-minute signings.

TicToc
11 days ago

Window’s nearly closed and the pieca shit, Peter TOXIC Lawwell, has won the day, AGAIN!
More money in bank, tick, nearer the new huns level, tick, Rodgers frustrated, tick. Lawwell: “I don’t get really mad, I just get even and profit hugely at the same time, HoHoHo!
Who’s gonnae put an end to this?

Salad Queen.
11 days ago
Reply to  TicToc

Unfortunately nae body!

TicToc
10 days ago
Reply to  Salad Queen.

Keep the faith!
Some of our supporters may sometimes be apathetic but beware the ‘sleeping giant’!

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