{"id":3932,"date":"2013-11-11T14:04:14","date_gmt":"2013-11-11T14:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3932"},"modified":"2013-11-11T14:21:29","modified_gmt":"2013-11-11T14:21:29","slug":"celtic-must-take-the-plunge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3932","title":{"rendered":"Celtic must take the Plunge!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic board must take the plunge to scale heights<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Enda<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the funniest moments of sporting punditry I\u2019ve seen in recent times came in the wake of Donegal\u2019s All-Ireland Final triumph against Mayo last September. Jim McGuinness had transformed his team from underachievers into benchmarks. A robust defensive outfit, stubborn in the concession of chances let alone goals, Donegal had added potent attacking flair to their bow and rightly took their place as kingpins for the 2012 season. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the decider, Mayo were caught like rabbits in the headlights. Donegal exploded from the blocks, scoring two goals in the opening minutes. Given their watertight defence, that attacking blitz rendered Mayo\u2019s task impossible \u2013 the dye was cast. Donegal strangled the life from Mayo thereafter, always doing just enough to maintain the advantage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lovely story, but just what has that got to do with Celtic\u2019s journey in the Champions League, where the Hoops aren\u2019t likely to run up a tally of 2-11 against anyone in the near future. <\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting on that game, RTE pundit Pat Spillane lamented Mayo\u2019s inability to penetrate the well-drilled Donegal defence. Something was missing Pat told us. Being from Kerry, it can be tough to ascertain his command of the English language at times, but Pat was daring to take on some basic Spanish now, with great difficulty. <\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of umpteen labored pronunciations we found out, just, that Mayo were crying out for a \u2018desatascador\u2019. What\u2019s that now Pat? Come again. In Spanish football we were told they have a name for a special type of player. A player that can crack the meanest defence, find a way through when space is tight. In the enduring moments of a game, he is the one who teammates rely upon for the sustenance to maintain their effort. He is literally the unblocker or the plunger \u2013 the desatascador. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"desatascador\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In four Champions League group stage games this season, Celtic have yielded one goal from open play. Beram Kayal\u2019s significantly deflected winner against Ajax in Glasgow. James Forrest\u2019s penalty in the same game is the only other time the Hoops have troubled the scorekeeper. It isn\u2019t enough. In the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday night we plummeted to new lows. <\/span><\/p>\n

Between them Giorgios Samaras, Anthony Stokes, Forrest and Kris Commons posed very little threat to the home rearguard. What makes it so much more concerning is that this particular Ajax side clearly lacks the quality to succeed at this level.<\/span><\/p>\n

A year ago, Celtic returned from a small hiatus to the top table in European football. Back in with the big hitters a group containing Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow. Delighted to be amongst it all, little was expected even by the most ardent of fans, let alone the likes of ITV who wrote Celtic off before a ball was kicked.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the opening group game against Benfica at Parkhead, Celtic played like a team not expecting too much. The Portuguese came for a point and the Hoops seemed satisfied with the same outcome. A drab scoreless affair. Then came Moscow. For the first time, maximum points were returned from a jaunt across Europe in the premier competition. Neil Lennon and his players rightfully took huge belief from the result and almost plundered a most unlikely draw from the Nou Camp. <\/span><\/p>\n

Queue a momentous Celtic Park \u2018European night\u2019 against the Catalans. On the occasion of the club\u2019s 125th<\/sup> anniversary, Barca were beaten. The world took notice. Progression was secured when the deflated Russians were edged out in a tense final game. Eventually, Juventus cruelly exposed how mistakes can be punished at this level but the overall experience was a good one. We wanted a lot more of that please. <\/span><\/p>\n

With Rangers long since condemned to their eternal resting place, European football takes on an even greater significance for Celtic FC\/PLC. As much as the fans crave it, the club requires it. The backwater that was the Scottish Premiership is now merely a stream \u2013 or worse still, a brook. The revenue to sustain cannot be generated at home. For the foreseeable future, Celtic will dominate in Scotland. Anything less would represent catastrophic failure. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not really a figures type of person, but briefly, here are some of the numbers for Celtic. <\/span><\/p>\n

Champions League group stage participation this season guaranteed the club a return of \u00a316m. Last year\u2019s run produced just over \u00a320m \u2013 before a ticket was sold. For a club with overall operating revenue of approximately \u00a375m, the significance of those funds cannot be over stated. Returning to the Champions League resulted in overall revenue jumping upwards by nearly fifty-per-cent in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

The PLC announced a pre-tax profit of some \u00a310m, most remarkable for the fact the figures did not take account of the sale of Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson in the summer, which brought in around \u00a320million, but they do encompass the purchases of Virgil van Dijk and Amido Balde earlier in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

As stated, figures are not my specialist subject. Roughly translated to me as a football fan however, this is what I get from that number crunching. <\/span><\/p>\n

Celtic FC are in a very sound financial position. This is to be applauded greatly, considering the toxic mess that exists \u2013 sort of \u2013 in the south side. The club has nothing in the way of debt. Our recruitment policy \u2013 targeting young, unfulfilled talent that can be nurtured towards potential profit on resale \u2013 is working a treat. Our largest single source of revenue generation is the UEFA Champions League. Turnover \u2013 without considering profit\/loss \u2013 depends on it. <\/span><\/p>\n

If we are to continue to have regular exposure in this environment and, god forbid, progress within it then we must look to recruit the type of player that can affect games at that level.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to find this kind of player and what it will cost? That\u2019s a riddle for people a few pay grades above mine to solve. John Park, Neil Lennon, Peter Lawell et al. From past experience, we know it can be done. From nowhere, these types of players can appear – Lubomir Moravcik, Shunsuke Nakamura \u2013 these fabled players that possess that greatness within to seize the biggest occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"lubo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In all likelihood, investment on a scale not recently seen in Glasgow might be needed. It is a risk\/reward policy. The necessity for Champions League revenue against the fact we must spend a percentage of that money on the assumption we will get there.\u00a0 The depth of financial prudence at Parkhead is evident nowhere more than in the fact that John Hartson, more than ten years ago, represents the last transfer fee paid out that exceeded \u00a35m. Compare that against other clubs seeking a foothold in the Champions League and it will come off well below the norm. <\/span><\/p>\n

The desatascador is something Celtic do not possess. In Amsterdam Kayal, Mulgrew and Commons formed the midfield trio. Joe Ledley came on, Scott Brown was suspended. None will answer to the criteria needed. Commons shows fleeting glimpses but will never truly be that great player. <\/span><\/p>\n

Often when watching Champions League games I find myself thinking after a goal, could Celtic have scored that? Take Anderlecht\u2019s opener in Paris on Tuesday. Neat interplay down the left, a midfielder (Kljestan) getting on the end of a one-two and breaching the defensive line. A quick look up and composed cut back finds an in-rushing attack minded midfielder (de Zeeuw) willing to take the risk and run late from midfield to support the play. Bang. Plunge. Unblock. <\/span><\/p>\n

Too often, Celtic rely on the heroic effort. The braveheart defensive displays with the emotional attachment of the Celtic Park atmosphere. It is no longer enough. The surprise factor is gone. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"thinking-outside-of-the-box-to-improve-your-business-300x225\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We need to roll the dice again. Invest. Not reckless spending in the pursuit of success and short term glory. No club worth their stripes (or Hoops) would be so foolish as to try that approach right? <\/span><\/p>\n

Rather, a gentle upping of the investment. Instead of the two and maybe three million pound investments, go to the next level. Do it with the same restraint and business acumen we do now. On the current UEFA rewards scale even should we come home fourth in this group we have earned \u00a316m from it. How we choose to invest that money, or not invest it, is the greatest differentiator in whether we get back to this place again. <\/span><\/p>\n

Speculate wisely to accumulate significantly. Take the plunge Celtic. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Celtic board must take the plunge to scale heights by Enda   One of the funniest moments of sporting punditry I\u2019ve seen in recent times…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/plungebear.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-11q","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3932"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3932"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3942,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3932\/revisions\/3942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}