First Draft

Business Plan
OWNERS
Business name: Wee Wee Rangers Co 2012
Address: 50 Pitches
Govan
Glasgo, G51 1AR
Telephone: (+44) 7740343612
Fax: (0141) 883-4946
E-mail: Michael__67@hotmail.com







Executive Summary

Release all playing and non-playing staff.

Sign desperado’s willing to sign and play for nothing just to savour pulling on
the glorious and dignified Royal Blue Shirts.

That should give us David Healy and four of the current Under 19 set up.

We already have a link up with local
Amateur outfit AC Cardonald, who are willing to give us their fringe player to
make up to at least 11 players on match days.

Have also set up the Wee Wee Fighting Fund
to keep the glorious and dignified history growing. Any money made from that will be placed on
Celtic to win the SPL for the next ten years consecutively.

We will stay competeing using local
facilities at one of the three and a half pitches still existing in ‘the fifty
pitches’ for £30.50 per home game.

However, the Janny there is a big blue nose so will let us play for
nothing, and my mother says she’ll wash the kit (which I’ve bought for £38 for
the full thing from Sports Direct).

After ten years, of bumming about the lower
reaches of the Scottish Juniour/amateur pyramid, the winnings from Celtic’s
tainted ‘success’ will give us enough money to take us back to the glory days
of smashing up Manchester, and rioting in Barcelona.

Aye Ready



General Company Description

Mission

statement: To be ‘THE PEOPLE’ once again
Current owner, secretary, manager, kit man,
coach, physio, and water boy of AC Cardonald I know what Wee Wee Rangers need
to bring the club to success.

Drawing on sympathy and help from any
willing bears, even if we couldn’t keep ‘The Big House’ open, we can strive to
build a new one.

Form of ownership: I will be the sole owner, my current
finances in AC Cardonald are underwritten by Bucktronic – an extremely successful
and growing Wall Street Hedge fund.

Most
important strengths and core competencies: Potential
support and current stakeholders potential continued interest.

Significant
challenges the company faces now and in the near future: Now, BBC, SFA, and several other Papal conspirators

Long
term: After ten years, we will use Peter Risdale’s failed Leeds model. Except, being “ra people” we will succeed by continued
European success








Products and Services
Describe in depth your products and
services. (Technical specifications, drawings, photos, sales brochures, and
other bulky items belong in the Appendices.)
What factors give you competitive
advantages or disadvantages? For example, the level of quality, or unique or
proprietary features.
What is the pricing, fee, or leasing
structure of your products and services?
Marketing Plan
Notes on Preparat
research: Why?
You spend so much time on marketing-related
matters — customers, competitors, pricing, promotion, and advertising — that it is natural to assume that you have little to learn.
However, every small business can benefit from doing market research to make
sure it is on track. Use the business planning process as your opportunity to
uncover data and to question your marketing efforts. It will be time well
spent.
Market
research: How?
There are two kinds of market research:
primary and secondary.
Secondary research means using published
information such as industry profiles, trade journals, newspapers, magazines,
census data, and demographic profiles. This type of information is available
from public libraries, industry associations, chambers of commerce, vendors who
sell to your industry, and government agencies.
Start with your local library. Most
librarians are pleased to guide you through their business data collection. You
will be amazed at what is there. There are more online sources than you could
possibly use. Your chamber of commerce has good

The Marketing Plan:

The Four P's
Price, Product, Protestantism, Papal Conspirators

Economics
Overrated - We’ve nae money, but want to
make loads



Products
The team
Features
and Benefits
David Healy – Northern Ireland – LEGEND

Customers
The Bears
All ages
Gender
Scotland/Belfast
Varying Income level
Social class/occupation – n/a
Education – na/
Other – We arrrra peeeeople



Competition
THEM


Table 1: Competitive Analysis



FACTOR


Me


Strength


Weakness


Competitor A


Competitor B


Competitor C


Importance to customer





Products


Team


eh


hunners


Sellik


Hearts


Queens Park


Eh?


We ARrrrrra People - Competitive Advantage 1-0 the Gers



Reference on request from The Wife - Teaches Weans

Unsecured Loans

With Jos Hooiveld signing for Southampton after looking not only steady and reliable at the back in the south coast club’s rise back toward England’s premier division, but indeed already scoring three times this season, each of which coming in one goal victories. Should Celtic have bucked current trends and had the Dutchman as a fixture in their starting eleven when his loan deal ran out?

In the past this was common place, and with the abolition of reserve team football it seems strange that this does not happen more often in current times, particularly in Scotland. However, realistically, of the ten players loaned out from Celtic's senior side this season, Jos would be the only case to argue that the loan deal could have in any way given him a chance of making inroads into furthering his career at Celtic.

Celtic is certainly not the only club whose players have suffered a reduced impact while out on loan from their clubs. In the past, certainly in the UK loans had been mostly used to allow young players with enough potential to suggest they could ‘make it’ but not enough experience to be relied upon, to go out and gain that experience to come back to their parent clubs ready to show them they were worthy of a first team place. This was a great way for clubs to see what their young talents were made of, not only a test of their ability, but of their fight, determination and character. Often dropping to third and forth tier of the league set-up, were they prepared for when the going got tough in a boggy marsh that was a sad excuse for a football pitch in front of a handful of unimpressed ‘supporters’; understandably this acid test made and broke many footballers careers. There are still some contemporary managers, Including Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, and Harry Redknapp who hold this method in high regard, be it for youth development in terms of getting games and adding missing parts to their game, or purely to show their mettle before they deserve a shot at the big time.

Harry Redknapp, throughout his career has favoured loaning out his most promising academy graduates, and previously has said.

“What you’re looking for when you loan them out, you’re looking for them to make a real impact wherever they go. And when you get them back you think, ‘Stick him in the team.’ That’s what you want. It’s a different kind of football, but you want to see them, ankle-deep in mud, doesn’t bother them, just getting on with it. You have to adjust.”

Other managers like Arsene Wenger, who is not as old fashioned in the ‘ankle deep in mud’, throwing tackles about stuff, but is keen on first team exposure at any level, still likes to see his lads loaned out. With top clubs like Wenger’s Arsenal taking all the talent when they are barely in high school- there is a uneven distribution of good young players, not only hindering lower league clubs who in the past would have been able to blood good young players and sell them on, but the good young players are now on the books of huge top level squad importing talent earlier and earlier, giving their youth teams even greater competition to break into the senior set up and a lower chance of young players ever making that full progression.

Players can be loaned out – and be seen as a complete success by the club they’ve gone to – yet on return to their parent club there is still no real place for them. A great example of this is young Scott Sinclair making short term moves from Chelsea, and in particular achieving great impact and success at Swansea.

Looking closer to home, both Paul McGowan and Graham Carey impressed on their loan jaunts, but in truth, were never going to be given a chance after showing up well in Greenock, Paisley, and Huddersfield. In recent years, only Liam Miller can I remember that has gone out for first team experience elsewhere then returned to a run in the Celtic team off the back of that.

Given the impact of football’s current financial climate it is not overly surprising that players are often dealt with in such a short term mindset by clubs. Clubs like Celtic want high earners who aren’t likely to make first team impact off wage bill, guys like Rasmussen, Juarez, and indeed Hooiveld who don’t break into the starting eleven with any regularity will likely be moved on if acceptable offers come in willing to pay their wages for 6 months or a year, with no real thought of how the club can use them, or will value them afterwards.

And with smaller clubs not having money, loan singings are a good non-committal was of bulking up squad numbers with decent quality, without serious long term gamble in terms of transfer fee’s and contracts needed to be weighed up. While this might seem good for players looking for experience a rung or two down the football ladder, with money tight and pressure on managers for success never been greater - young players are often overlooked in favour of older pro's regardless of the potential ability even if they have been brought in from clubs of far greater stature. Josh Thompson, who certainly didn’t let himself down in the 15 or so games he had as he filled in for Celtic as a 19 year old, has gone to Peterborough and Rochdale, but been kept out the side as managers who although they saw enough ability in him to bring him in, wont even risk him at that level. These guys know a 30 year old cart horse who has bags of 3rd Division experience won’t be seen as a gamble that could potentially cost them or their reputation. The greater the pressure, the less gambles a manager will take, at any level. This surely doesn’t bode well for young players looking for loan moves to boost their career, but may well help the bigger name players who just haven’t settled at clubs who cant necessarily afford to keep paying their wages if they aren’t impacting the first team (like Robbie Keane going to Celtic from Tottenham a couple of year back, as opposed to Man City seemingly in no rush to ship Tevez off).

Often the younger players are sent out on loan to teams in need of inexpensive but able squad members, and keep there interest dangling over the potential prospect of coming back trusted for the first team. The danger of the loaning system for talented young players today is when the development process goes out the window, and the reason for loaning the player out becomes solely as a means to keep him happy.

David Bentley the former Arsenal youngster parted company with Arsenal after two loan periods to two different clubs. Frazier Campbell and Ben Foster were shipped out of Manchester United after multiple extensive loan periods. Chelsea have sold off talents like Israeli Ben Sahar after multiple loan periods. Sometimes while these youngsters see the opportunity for first team football elsewhere as a short-term solution, in the long term it may prove better for them to stay at their clubs and try to compete there for a first team place. Ashley Cole’s break into the Arsenal first team came as a result with an injury to Sylvinho. Jack Wilshere’s break into the Arsenal first team last season came as a result of injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Fabregas. When you are loaned out as a young player, it may become a case of out-of-sight out-of-mind, you are not considered by the manager anymore, and players are brought in to fulfil your position.

Currently Chelsea have 2 young talents playing for the England U21′s who are no strangers to the loaning process. Jack Cork and Ryan Bertrand have been on loan to 6 and 5 different clubs respectively. Scott Sinclair, who cut ties with the club earlier this year, had also been shipped out to 6 different clubs on loan before he finally moved on.

This type of loaning is not loaning as a finishing school. There is in fact evidence that multiple loans can prove to be the ‘kiss of death’ to talented youngster’s chances of making it at their ‘parent clubs’. Shared ownership of players, which is prevalent in Serie A, is non-existent in England. In Italy, big clubs maintain ties with talented youngsters by surrendering the player’s registration to play to the smaller club, whilst keeping (usually) 50% ownership of the players. This gives incentive to the smaller club to play the youngster, as an increase in his market value will benefit the smaller club. English clubs maintain ties with their young players by repeatedly sending them out on loan, as they are not yet ready for the first team, but its debateable whether there is real hope for them to still be a useful asset for there parent club.

Signings like Juarez, Rasmussen, and Hooiveld, who don’t settle into team with good form, but unable to move on, are easier to be loaned out, being kept off wage bill, and pick up first team football, and given a slim chance of being able to be moved on for a reasonable transfer fee at some point, but realistically aren’t going to return to Celtic Park and become part of the furniture.


The others like Cillian Sheridan, Milan Misun, Graham Carey, Paul McGowan, now Niall McGinn amongst others are loaned out to keep them happy and taken by lower teams, desperate for bodies (while Celtic picking up the majority of the wage), and hoping on the off chance, that whenever they are used, they can show flashes of the ability (that while not coming anywhere close to holding down a first team spot at Celtic) that got them their contract at the Parkhead club in the first place. In truth this now tends to be just a part of a slow decline before the player ends up released and spiralling down the leagues.


All in all, doing the admirable thing; going in search of first team games outwith Celtic is unlikely to be seen by the promising youngsters in the ProGen series who’ve played Barca and won against Man City, as a good advert for a long term career at Parkhead.

Down But Still United

Having heard rumours of Neil Lennon losing the backing of the Celtic dressing room, it would appear strange (to me anyway), that the players in that squad have been so vocal in their support of him.

I have taken note of a few of these (all from the past couple of weeks, with the exception of Common’s quote taken from Twitter towards the end of September after he was dropped for the Rangers game) and charted them below.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Fraser Forster
“The manager has been absolutely fantastic with me ever since I walked through the door. I can’t thank him enough”



Mark Wilson
“We're firmly behind the manager and we love working under him and the coaching staff. It's up to us to repay his faith in us. We've not done it this season”



Charlie Mulgrew
“The manager has shown faith in a lot of boys here and everybody wants to win the title for him. We are all right behind him and working to repay his faith.
We feel we owe him so everybody is concentrating on doing the club and the manager a turn”



Daniel Majstorovic
“It is important for all players that the coach believes in you. I am always motivated. I don’t think about anything else. I feel really good here. I really like the club and I just need to be focused and deliver on the pitch.”



Thomas Rogne
“We have let the manager down too many times now and haven't done him justice. We are desperate to turn it around for him, for the fans, for the club — everyone.

I can stand here, though, and talk to you about every player wanting to turn it around but we have to show it on the pitch. But we have to step our game up and be united as a group as we have been and believe in ourselves.”



Adam Matthews
“Every single player in that dressing room plays for the manager and respects the manager. There is no doubt that every player is playing for him. All the boys are really close and they are close to the management staff as well.”



Victor Wanyama
“The manager spoke but the players were involved in it as well. We all agreed with what was being said so it was positive.

The Celtic squad's like a family. The players help one another and that's helped me. As players we want to help one another. The manager is part of that — we all are."



Ki Sung Yueng
“I'm young and I'm very happy with these players and the manager. I'm very pleased with this club. I just want to help the team win the league.”



Beram Kayal
“I will do everything for the club and the manager to achieve success. It was the manager who wanted me here and I want to achieve things for him, the club and all our supporters.

The gaffer gives everything for the players and every one of us wants to give everything back to the gaffer. For me, he's not just the manager. He gave me everything, he always believed in me. When he speaks to me, he gives me energy. It is especially good that he played in my position, because always he gives me tips during the games. Every time he tells me to do something in a game, if I do it, I have success.

I left my family to come here and I feel that all the club, not just the gaffer but the coaches and players are my family now. The gaffer has a bond not just with me. He has a bond with all the players.

We just want to win games for him."



Joe Ledley
"We want him to stay, he's a great manager and we all want to try to win things for him and ourselves. We just have to keep working hard and try to get back on track. He is one of the greatest managers I have worked with and we want to keep him here.
We want to keep him here because he is a great manager and everyone believes in him."



James Forrest
"It's just nonsense to suggest the manager has lost the dressing room. The players are right behind him.

I've known the gaffer since he was in charge of the reserve side and he was the one who gave me my chance in the first team. If you ask the players they'll tell you he's good to work under but we are the ones who have to show him what we can do.”



Kris Commons
“Celtic is the best club I've ever played for and Lenny is no doubt the best manager I've worked under.”


Anthony Stokes
“We are all right behind the gaffer. It is up to us as players to show that we are good enough here. We are desperate to bring success to the club, and the manager is the man to do that.”




Johan Mjallby
“If I was a player I would be happy to have Neil Lennon as a manager and I would be fighting for him”



----------------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously backed into a corner under questioning, an employee is hardly going to get stuck into their current boss; however the majority of the quotes from the players have come in post match interviews, or questions about the clubs form, rather than directly about Lennon’s ability, future, or indeed popularity.

Given the players could have avoided the subject on almost all of the above, I think it shows that whatever is causing Celtic’s poor form, a lack of support for Neil Lennon amongst his players, is not the reason.

Managing a Crisis?

We must keep Lennon – I am in no way saying I am not worried by his apparent lack of ‘learning from his mistakes’, but think the way for us to build a successful squad is to keep a bit of consistency, as since O’Neill left in 2006, our turnover of manager has severely affected the massive number of signings, which I think is a big part of our current problem.

You cant tell from one game to the next who will be played, I can understand Lennon’s reluctance to pick players who he doesn’t think are firing on all cylinders, but when his replacements form is too in doubt – surely from now on you stick by a pretty much pre decided unit. That’s how good teams get to be good. By no means just through having good players, often teams backed into a corner through lack of finance to have other options (see Walter Smith’s Rangers), can become a successful unit. We have too many options. Too many players who ‘could’ do a job. But frankly, too many of them, just aren’t.

It doesn’t seem how much we spend, or how many we bring in, our centre halves are unable to attack the ball with the level of aggression and certainty that other teams even in lower leagues have no problem doing. Majstorovic gets more than his fair share of criticism in my view, as he can at least attack the ball. At times, his mobility and decision making leaves him unable to do little else. However, loads of other teams have centre halves who are just in their for their steel, aggression, and presence, and the balance of their backline is such that the other players do their bit and cover in behind when needed.

Loovens, Hooiveld, Rogne, Wilson, all brought in and showed even glimpses of promise, but are unable to sustain any kind of meaningful partnership. And in all honesty, Mulgrew has done well individually at times, his desire and qualities cant be questioned in the most part, but even he has struggled to secure a consistent back line for us.

It’s not only defence where the balance is wrong. The formation worked last season, we were taking our width from our full backs, the midfield drifting inside to get on the ball seemed fluent, going were need be, fighting for each ball. Without Izzaguire, Wilson (or the other right backs) have tended to sit deeper to protect their defence, and neither side has overlapped, leaving Commons looking a very average player – not given the tools to go and win the match. This season only Ki has kept a good standard (though only shows what he really can do, when the tempo is upped, while seeming unable to dictate the tempo being upped), but all other midfielders have fallen by the wayside. Fitness, suspension, or just plain form – we have been disjointed and out of confidence. I think Wanyama should be used to help us build balance and confidence again. Works hard off the ball, and keeps it simple on it – need to find the other players to use effectively with them. I know Forrest has ability, but changing strike partnerships, and underperforming midfield hasn’t helped him use his skills in the right area, and often finds most joy dribbling across the pitch, and unable to create the goalscoring opportunity for either himself or others that his work should be deserving. A more experience player would have been best served given what’s been around him, keeping wide, and allowing us to open the game up, rather than to narrow the space by running towards players (when no one else is helping to take them away). Our lack of use of McCourt has been again, truly baffling.

Kayal’s attitude on the park has been poor. Last season he was excellent. The type of player I thought we wouldn’t see for Celtic again. Could do it all. Brilliant off the ball, intelligent, composed, and able on it. He looked so gifted, yet still hungry. The perfect personification of what it looked like Lennon was building. But this season, be it contract dispute or lack of form, his intelligence has turned to frustration, composure turned to laziness, and his ability has turned to arrogance.

I don’t agree with how he has been offered contract, for me I would have liked to have seen Celtic say – it’s not the time for contracts at this point for either party, lets concentrate on form and we can sort that out at Christmas. Looks like he has got what he wanted because we weren’t sure how best to deal with it. Giving him all the cards, then going all in. Lets hope he throws a few aces our way for the rest of the season, and maybe it’ll work out for the best. We’ll see.

The players just aren’t helping themselves or the manager. And yes I want more from Lennon, I want to see him put out a more settled, secure, and balanced team, but the manager essentially is looking for our big players to stand up and be counted. But who exactly are these big players?

We need the players to fight out of this current slump.

They need to take responsibility for their part in the poor form; they need to right their own wrongs for us to make progress.

And even if fans do want the axe to fall on Lennon's Celtic career, are there realistically better options available?

I am not aware of many managers who would be interested in coming to Celtic that I would be happier came in and improved things without setting us back again. As if there were, I have little doubt they would have gotten the job ahead of Lennon (and even Mowbray), as it was touted to all and sundry to see what interest we got back. The fact the Mark McGhee didn’t want it - still deeply troubles me. I just don't think a new man coming in and starting again would be the solution.

One minute we are all Neil Lennon – the next minute we don’t want to know. Not good enough from the Celtic support for me. If by summer we still have the same concerns and progress isn’t deemed ‘enough’, by all means re-evaluate then.

But not now.

We’ve got ‘our’ man, let’s stick by him...

End Of Season Report Card

Frazer Forster - Relatively untroubled throughout the season and bar Rangers game early season has looked extremely comfortable. Still leaves a niggling feeling that under the cosh there would be better candidates in the market we could get between the sticks for a similar type of fee as Newcastle would be looking for. B –

Lukasz Zalusca – Didn’t take his opportunity prior to Forster’s signing with a ‘mare against Utrecht. Need a backup that can be relied upon to do better that that. Hopefully will go on to prove he is a good keeper elsewhere. F

Mark Wilson - Rediscovered his best Celtic form in 2011 where his versatility, ability, and experience helped our defence maintain easily the best record in the country despite a horrendous run of injuries. Form prevented us from feeling the absence of Cha’s early season performances. B+

Cha Du Ri - Good addition to the squad, added strength, and pace in both defensive and attacking areas. Crossing had improved prior to Asian Cup leave, then a run of injuries which curtailed the second half of his season. B

Charlie Mulgrew – Proved his worth in both a midfield and centre half berth when Lennon really needed him to step up and be counted in the absence of others. Gave his all and showed that for the modest transfer fee in his signing; his ability, consistency, goal threat, enthusiasm and new found positional maturity, he demonstrates great value. A –

Dan Majstorovic – His experience helped those around him and the relative novelty of an aggressive centre half who attacks the ball in the air was a breath of fresh air, particularly given most SPL’s ‘subtle’ style of football. Was posted completely missing at the defeats in Inverness and at Ibrox which has to be taken into consideration against anything else good he brought, but given his age and pace perhaps shouldn’t be totally surprising. B –

Thomas Rogne – Got over the previous seasons injury problems to give a good return of 20 games. Brought in to partner Mulgrew in January and was steady, astute, and composed. Next step is to hold a starting spot under healthy competition. C+

Glenn Loovens - Given a deserved exodus from the side after complete horror show at Perth in October (on the back of several other toothless outings). But to be fair to Loovens, he hauled himself just about back from the brink with competent showings on the smattering of appearances afterwards. Albeit under no real pressure, had terrific performances in the final three games of the season. D -

Emilio Izaguirre – Assured, imposing, strong, and eye-catching throughout the season. A joy to watch going forward, and works hard to get back and cover his defensive duties too. His performance in the 3-0 win against Rangers was a master class in the art of the modern day fullback. A


James Forrest - Great impact for debut season in first team, scored goals and was the difference in several early season games. In and out the team after injury, but his pace and direct running offer a great option and one Lennon seems to rate highly. B

Efrain Juarez – Promised much, delivered very little. Be it attitude or whatever else, unless he sorts whatever is maintaining his absence from the starting line up then he’ll have future at Celtic. F

Niall McGinn – Injury interrupted season, but when given a run in the team, seems to make a good impact. Like Forrest, pacey, stays wide and is very direct. Next year will be make or break as to whether he’ll ever be a fixture as a Celtic player. C-

Ki Sung Yeung – Starting to impose himself on games in the manner a player of his ability, vision, and even physique should be. Took his chance with Brown and Kayal’s absences and managed to finish the season back in the side and on great form, not allowing his Asian Cup leave, to curtail his opportunity. A –

Beram Kayal – Possesses a will to win that befits his ability on the ball. Uses the ball well, tackles, gets forward, and is a great influence on others. Had injury not kept him out of a large part of 2010 then I have no doubts he would have deservedly ended the season a league champion. A+

Marc Crosas – Made more impact on twitter than he did on the pitch. Clearly a capable player that will do well in the rest of his career. Sadly never showed that he was able to hold down a place in our midfield long-term. F

Scott Brown – Without doubt, Brown has at times this season played his best stuff as a Celtic player. Works tirelessly for the team, has improved his passing and cut out the silly stuff that at times bogs him down. Still think he has a bit to learn to be as effective in the middle as he can be wide right. B+

Joe Ledley – Mr Consistency. Could impose himself a bit more on games in an attacking sense, but positioning, work rate, defensive work, and his performances against Rangers have marked his Debut season at Celtic a success. B

Paddy McCourt – Showed that he can do the simple things to go with undoubted talent and wonder goals. Held his place in the team at times and always looks positive and capable of opening defences up. How long will he hang around unless he can become a permanent fixture on the team sheet? B

Shaun Maloney – Ubiquitously in and out the team through injury. Shows enough when involved to keep him part of things, but is reaching an age where more is expected in terms of being consistent and able to be relied on by his team mates. C

Freddie Ljungberg – Didn’t do too much wrong, but never made enough of an impact when he had his chance to justify keeping others out of the team. F

Olivier Kapo – He came, he saw, he left. F

Kris Commons – Made as much of an impact in a season as you are ever likely to see from a January acquisition. Scored 15 goals from midfield in half a season, created several others, and was a thorn in Rangers side when he had the chance to play against them. Terrific. A

Gary Hooper – His movement, pace, partnerships, and goals really did surpass expectation for a player signed from Scunthorpe. Like Kayal was unlucky to miss part of season with injury, but made up for lost time the minute he was in the side.
A

Anthony Stokes – His goals and his link up play with Hooper were a feature of much of the positives in Celtic’s attacking football. Needs to learn when and where to take his man in, and when to keep things simple. His work rate improved as the season progressed and he was unlucky to be overlooked for a couple of key matches. B

Giorgios Samaras - Unquantifiable – even in ratings. From the sublime to the ridiculous at times. He has ability and he works hard, but at times in the wrong areas and with the decision making of a child with a felt tip pen near a cream sofa.

Daryl Murphy – His Messi like dribble and finish aside, didn’t offer anything like enough to give us a different type of option as a big man upfront. F

_________________________

Neil Lennon

After what most would describe as a pretty incredible season, in terms of consistency and quality produced on the pitch every bit as much as the incidents off it, it still seems absurd that Lennon did not end his first season as a manager with the league trophy. Bold decisions like a mass influx in transfers last summer were in the main vindicated, and his use of Celtic’s scouting network has without doubt been a true success. Unafraid to drop players be it fans favourite or a big personality within the squad which is definitely a bonus for future development, however needs to learn that there are times when it’s important to have all his best goal scoring threats on the pitch at the same time

European games came too early to judge either manager or squad’s ability to compete at that level, but it is fair to say an improvement on what was shown in those early season fixture for the club and it’s supporters to be contented.

What was shown in the season was a determination, team spirit and for the most part, a cutting edge that had been sadly lacking for the past couple of seasons. Disappointing moments like the Inverness catastrophe and a toothless end of November cost us dear when compared with Walter Smith’s mindboggling royal blue juggernaught.

Lennon has shown he is very capable, not afraid of a difficult decision, extremely committed, and has a great eye for a signing. Next year will be a real test for Lennon, can he show that he can build on his early promise, keep focussing on the pitch, and is he able to replace players piece by piece until the squad are all capable to perform at the standard required of top level football.

Certainly wouldn’t go as far as saying ‘must do better’, but from this season’s offering, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that Celtic definitely can do better. B+

Eastern End Bhoys

Almost four years since Gordon Strachan persuaded a Work Permit appeal panel that as a player of immense potential and huge technical ability, Koki Mizuno’s move to Celtic should be ratified, the Japanese winger is currently part of a successful club side whose stock is most definitely on the rise.

However things have certainly not gone according to plan for 25 year-old Mizuno. While he may be part of a successful team, he is not playing in the hallowed footballing continent of Europe as he had hoped, and indeed has become very much a bit part, squad player as he works himself back from injury playing for Kashiwa Reysol back in his homeland.

Following a patient wait and being continually and curiously overlooked after some very promising performances in his first competitive outings, Mizuno returned to Japan with Kashiwa Reysol in the summer of 2010 after playing only 12 games in Scotland.

Dropping to the second tier of Japanese football, hoping to Kick-start his career, in a crushing blow, young Mizuno tore knee ligaments within ten minutes of his Reysol debut. In his absence his teammates have gone from strength to strength under the leadership of veteran Brazilian manager Nelsinho Baptista. Aiming to recapture their form of mid to late 90’s when superstar players like Careca and Stoichkov donned their colours, Kashiwa Reysol won Division 2 last season and are sitting top of the J-League with 8 matches played so far this term.

Injury free Mizuno now aims to get more game time, get back in the starting eleven, and get his career back on track.

"When I found out the extent of the injury, at first it was a big shock, I had just come to the club and I was brought in as a reinforcement to help win promotion, so I felt like I had let the team down.

I got injured last season and was only able to play one game, so I want to win my place in the team as soon as possible.

Having just come up from J2 it will be a hard season, but last year we were able to establish our style and we are aiming to make progress.

I had injuries in Scotland, and the hardest aspect of it is how it affects you mentally. How you deal with it is the most important thing, and you have to make sure you keep your motivation up.

Playing for Celtic with Nakamura helped me a lot off the pitch as well as on it, To be able to play with a player like that and get advice from him is something that can only make me a better player.

"I went over there (to Scotland) and didn’t really show what I could do, and I still haven't got back to the level that I was at before. I wish I had been able to show my strong points, but that is what I am aiming to do here.
If had gone over there and given it more, then I think I could have made it, and that's something I regret.

But that will spur me on to improve here.

Playing in the Old firm Derby for Celtic was amazing — unlike anything I've ever experienced, it was something I really enjoyed, and to be able to take part in a game like that is the biggest achievement of my career. I want to work hard and improve here so that I can sample an atmosphere like that again in the future."

Meanwhile 53 Km South West of Kashiwa, Mizuno’s former team mate and a man who certainly savoured the big match atmosphere at Celtic, Shunsuke Nakamura is definitely more of a central figure on his return to Japan. Having started all but one league game so far this season which he missed through minor injury, captain Nakamura, always the consummate professional, has performed well but not quite at the scintillating heights he did in his first spell for hometown side Yokohama Marinos, or indeed in his explosive spell in Scotland with Celtic.


With his technique, quiet influence, and now vast experience; it was expected that Nakamura would drive Marinos back to challenge for the title after eight years completely out of contention. And indeed on his second debut for the club, he scored a trademark long range strike signalling he might do just that. Offering quite the opposite in terms of success that Mizuno suffered on his immediate return to their home country. Despite being an integral part of every starting line-up, Nakamura has not consistently dominated games in the way that had been hoped scoring only 4 more goals in over 30 games last season, taking them to a lacklustre 8th position in the J-League.

This season has seen Nakamura’s side fair far better, currently in third place, only 3 points from the top, and the Marinos faithful will be hoping their captain can add a patented free kick or five to his solitary strike this term to help them overthrow his old pal Koki Mizuno’s team from top of the league.

Measuring Success

If you listen to any football pundit or analyst bleat on about the game, soon enough you will hear them utter the phrase “It’s a results business”. There is no doubt this is literally correct; as they mean that: in football, success is measured in how good your results are.

As much as football is certainly not as black and white as that, obviously by having more positive results, a manager is more likely to win trophies, and in turn, be deemed successful. And in the main most people wouldn’t argue with the measurement of success being stacked on the amount of games won. Football should be played in the right way, based on passing, attacking, movement, and moments of magic, but there is no getting away from the need, at times, for games simply to be won. There is nothing worse than managers telling you of their great football philosophy of expansive football, but playing in such a way that sees them unable to consistently win.

However if this season has taught Celtic fans anything; is that there are times where you succeed without merely winning matches, titles, and cups. Without playing the victim card, to many, this season has brought back what it is to be a Celtic supporter, regardless of the fact on the morning of the 21st of May this year; Celtic could have well ended the season winning nothing.

Obviously the sense of injustice within the football institutions of this country, and in the wider society as a whole, felt by Celtic towards their manager and the club have unified the fans, players, manager, and club together in a way that can only make positive foundations for their future challenges together.

Neil Lennon has built his team’s followers a squad to be proud of, guys who can show the mix of passion and ability needed to play at the top level. They look like they are playing for the jersey, but doing so with guile, flair, and a cutting edge, so often found missing in the past 7 years. The fact that the team have challenged in every game until the final whistle, and indeed challenged for every domestic trophy right to the final game of each competition so early in both the managers and most of the player’s infancy at Celtic, bodes well for the forthcoming season. The average age of many of Lennon’s starting line-ups have also been nothing short of unbelievable, providing an indication that this is a squad and a team that he will allow to grow and grow, and provide the fans with something more tangible in return for their faith, than simply pride. These players haven’t come to Celtic Park with massive egos, or unwanted elsewhere because they have been proven not good enough. These hungry young players have come to Celtic to prove they deserve the chance to play at this level; Izaguirre, Kayal, Ki, Commons, Hooper, even Mulgrew and indeed others, and have been bought for very reasonable sums. Yes there is no doubt these players will go up in value and if huge bids are made could move on, but the length of contracts, and the scouting methods used, suggest that generally speaking, this team will stay together, be added to, and only slightly altered as they move on.

Another major factor in the success taken from Celtic’s season is the return of the atmosphere and relationship amongst the Celtic support. Whether you agree with their politics, songsheet, or their reluctance to use the seating provided, what can not be argued is the impact made by Celtic’s Green Brigade. A focal point, talking point, instigators, and ultimately; pure unadulterated Celtic fans. Clearly the type of football, incidents with authorities, and the anti-Celtic bigotry that was seen in the tail end of the season has not harmed the type of collective atmosphere that the Green Brigade revel in, but they have definitely taken the current position and used it to galvanise their position within the Celtic support. Bringing new songs, adapting others, encouraging other fans to join in, the noise, the passion, the deep feeling and dedication has definitely forged a relationship with manger and players that leave you thinking, if this isn’t success for this team, I can’t wait to find out what is.....