THERE are definite shades of the People’s Front of Judea (not the Judean People’s Front, not those splitters) venting about the Romans in Life of Brian when you listen to Celtic supporters savaging their board.
There is not, judging by the tone of posts on social media websites and calls to radio phone-ins of late, an awful lot of love for the august body in the East End of Glasgow at this particular moment in time.
Not even with Kasper Schmeichel filling the huge void left by Joe Hart and Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah, for a not inconsiderable outlay, both returning.
The rabble rousers, though, would maybe realise how ridiculous they sound if some more sensible sorts pitched in to the conversation.
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Hoops Fan 1: “The Celtic directors are all b******s! What have the Celtic board ever done for us?”
Hoops Fan 2: “Well, there’s been 12 Scottish title victories in the last 13 years!”
Hoops Fan 1: “What?”
Hoops Fan 2: “We’ve won 12 Scottish titles in the last 13 years!”
Hoops Fan 1: “Yes, we did do that, that’s true.”
Hoops Fan 3: “Financial stability. Look at what happened to Rangers when they lived outwith their means. They died! And look at the mess they’re in now. We’ve got £67m in the bank and still have assets we can cash in on.”
Hoops Fan 1: “Financial stability I’ll grant is one thing the Celtic board may have done.”
Hoops Fan 4: “The state-of-the-art training centre at Lennoxtown. The players used to have to drive to and from Barrowfield with their kit and football boots on. It was a joke.”
Hoops Fan 1: “Well, apart from the state-of-the-art training centre at Lennoxtown.”
Hoops Fan 5: “Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Paulo Bernardo, Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest, Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah.”
Hoops Fan 6: “The trebles. We’ve dominated domestic football for years. We’ve now done eight trebles, which is a world record. Ange Postecoglou too. And Brendan Rodgers. They’re both brilliant managers.”
Hoops Fan 1: “Well, apart from 12 Scottish titles in 13 years, financial stability, £67m in the bank, saleable assets, the state-of-the-art training centre at Lennoxtown, all the great players we have, years of domestic dominance, a world-record eight trebles and brilliant managers like Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, what have the Celtic board ever done for us?”
Hoops Fan 7: “The disco lights.”
Hoops Fan 1: “Oh shut up!”
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Yes, the occupants of the padded seats at Parkhead, who were targeted with angry chants of “Sack the board!” when Rodgers’ men were en route to completing a Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, must wonder what on earth they have to do to placate the punters at times.
What followers of other top flight clubs in this country, not least their troubled city rivals across the River Clyde, would give to have their sort of problems.
The next seven days, the last of the summer transfer window, will go a long way to determining how successful the 2024/25 campaign is for them both at home and abroad.
O’Riley has been sold to Brighton for £25m. It is conceivable Furuhashi could follow his team mate out of the exit door. If they are not adequately replaced it will jeopardise their hopes of landing further silverware and reaching the Champions League knockout rounds.
If a few top quality signings are brought in it will strengthen their cause considerably. That would appear to be a big if at the moment. Only four new faces, Bernardo, Idah, Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo, have rocked up in the past three months. To say supporters are not entirely happy with the recruitment to date is an understatement.
Celtic drive a hard bargain and tend to leave things late. Three years ago, for example, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Josip Juranovic all arrived at the end of August and start of September. It is perhaps a risky strategy, something of a gamble. Still, their prudent approach has worked out pretty well for them in the past. Both on and off the park.
However, the pressure will be well and truly on next week. Especially if Furuhashi goes. A left-back, a playmaker and a striker will be the minimum requirement. The board will be crucified if they fail to dig into their vast reserves and acquire serious reinforcements.
No fan will be whistling “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” if Celtic no longer appear significantly superior to Rangers or capable of making an impact in Europe after the window closes on Friday night.
