It looks like the Lawwell’s reckon they’re invincible. 9 days into the transfer window, and Celtic are yet to move for a player
Eric Knott 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
This time next week, January will be half over.
You have to wonder, will Mark Lawwell have made a move by then to bring a player to the club?
Is he even capable of delivering what Brendan Rodgers requires?
Today, all we’re hearing about is outgoings.
No mention of any incomings.
I already touched on this in an article on Sunday.
Yesterday, there was another fleeting rumour about Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United.
The usual waffle about both Celtic and the Ibrox club wanting him.
Inevitably, every player we’re after, they’re after too.
In my time, I’ve seen many transfer windows come and go, and I have to admit, none have been as eerily quiet as this one.
I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing?
Is it quiet because we’re going to see a massive burst of activity by next week, or will we be sitting here this time next week asking the same question?
Your guess it as good as mine.
But what I’m seeing so far leads me to believe that Peter Lawwell is confident that both he and his son are invincible.
Why do I think this, you say?
Well, I’ll put it this way, there is discontent amongst the Celtic support bubbling away beneath the surface.
It’s kind of like a dormant Volcano, simmering away.
Some day, it will erupt, and when it does, it won’t spare anything in it’s path.
It is a long time since we’ve seen what fan power could do for Celtic.
In fact, its hard to believe it’s coming up on the 30th anniversary of the day the rebels won.
Because its been that long, the current board believes that the Celtic fanbase of today are no threat to them.
We are kind of like a fly, that can just be swatted away when we start buzzing irritatingly around the board.
Sort of like that irate fan at the Hearts game a few weeks ago, who had the audacity to call out the board for the shambles he had just witnessed on the pitch.
How dare a paying customer question the Celtic board, I mean who did he think he was?
Of course, he was swatted away like the irritating fly he was, and removed by the ever obedient Celtic stewards.
But what happens if you’re suddenly confronted by 60,000 angry flies?
Simply because you thought those 60,000 angry flies should shut up, and put up with their lot?
The big question here is this, where is the breaking point?
What will cause the volcano to erupt, or the irritating flies to become like a swarm of locusts?
It may be closer than you think.
There was a minor eruption at the Hearts game.
Not much.
But enough, nonetheless, to signal that there is discontent bubbling beneath the surface.
This discontent has been formed as a result of our poor Champions League campaign, which happened because our manager was left well short of what he required to be competitive in that competition.
Despite promises to the contrary having been made upon his second arrival.
The announcement that we had £72 million sitting in the bank achieved nothing, other than to further fuel the already rising discontent.
The board, and Peter Lawwell, seem to naively think that beating the Ibrox side just over a week ago, was enough to quell any rising discontent.
But they’re missing the point here, that win achieved the opposite effect.
The general consensus amongst the fanbase, and in the blogosphere, is that now is not the time for resting on our laurels.
Yet here we are, 9 days into the transfer window, with the board, and Mark Lawwell, well and truly resting on their laurels.
Complacency seems to be the order of the day.
Dare I say it, they’re sleeping at the wheel again.
Maybe that’s extreme, but they’re not giving any indications that they’re doing otherwise, are they?
Which brings me back to the Lawwell’s and their invincibility.
Well, I’ll put it this way, that sense of invincibility might start to become a tad fragile if Lawwell Jnr. doesn’t start bringing the in quality Brendan Rodgers requires soon.
It will, without doubt, become extremely fragile if we finish January no stronger than we entered it.
But as I alluded to earlier, is Lawwell Jnr. actually capable of delivering what’s required?
Reading Joe Mchugh’s article over on Videocelts earlier today, it gives you a sense of what we have, or don’t have, when it comes to Mark Lawwell.
This particular line sort of sums it:
After losing to Lazio Rodgers made his wishes clear, since June he had wanted four quality, first team ready players. Mark wasn’t listening or isn’t capable of delivering.
And there you have it.
Mark wasn’t listening or isn’t capable of delivering.
A damning indictment, but based on what we’ve seen from Lawwell Jnr. thus far, pretty accurate in my opinion.
9 days into January, and so far nothing.
Tomorrow, a third of the month will be gone.
If, by the end of this month, Brendan Rodgers has not been delivered the quality players he requires, well then, the Lawwell’s need to be prepared for what’s coming down the tracks.
Heading into the second half of the season, not having strengthened sufficiently, and down a further 4 players who have to head on international duty to the Asian Cup, will not be accepted.
There will come a breaking point.
Those who pride themselves on their fiscal control of this club have known since the end of last season that the Asian Cup was coming down the tracks.
To do nothing about that is a choice.
It will have to be perceived as a choice when they had more than enough time to prepare for it.
But to make the choice not to prepare for it will be gross negligence.
A complete abrogation of their responsibility to the Celtic playing squad.
Who, whether the board chooses to accept or not, are the focal point of this football club.
Not the bank balance.
Not the commercial operation.
And certainly not Peter Lawwell’s heated driveway.
The playing squad.
Without them, and the Celtic fans, the Celtic board would not enjoy the luxurious lifestyle they’re accustomed to.
A lifestyle which seems to be more important to them than the progress of this club.
If we exit this transfer window weaker than we entered it, then they can expect a serious backlash.
And it will be 100% justified.
That volcano I spoke about earlier, it’ll erupt.
But surely they’re aware of that?
Surely they’re not that stupid?
Well, I guess that remains to be seen.
Day 10 tomorrow.
Tick tock, tick tock…..
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Bhoycie 
I have said this before,am old enough to remember the White’s and the Kelly’s, a cancer on our club and now we have the Lawell’s but this cancer is worse much worse.
Since Rodgers had the temerity to win our last 4 games inc v the huns, this has been on the cards.
It’s hard to believe Desmond has allowed this situation to grow.
I for one won’t be surprised, if this current situation continues, BR will walk in the summer.
Peter Lawwell want’s therangers to catch up , you only have to read his statement when they went got liquidated.
Yes I remember that era the difference is wee have money but just means a bigger biscuit tin
11 titles in 12.
Treble treble winners.
Invincibility
New training ground
Any club would love this sort of success. I think some people expect it and thinks it comes out of fresh air instead of hard work behind the scenes. Tick tick tick tick it’s time you woke up and smelt the coffee ☕️ 💚
They have months to prepare and yet not a FQN peep as yet.
They’re in the belief that they’re essential to club, they’re NOT.
Yes the Lawwells are invincible because the major shareholder is more interested in profit than the team. Have you ever attended an AGM, one was enough for me, I could not believe how the vast majority of attendees voted for everything the board proposed without a whimper, there will be no revolt.
So Dougal YOU think it’s ok to sit back and do F ALL to drive our team and club on to be better than what it is.
Europe is a complete embarrassment but we still have to pay top dollar for tickets…..For what??
Bringing in 9 hopefuls when they won’t all get a game and there’s no reserves to keep them going only training….someone has to explain the point of throwing millions at this idea.
Lawwell YES lawwell over the years has wasted millions on players not good enough for teams way below us and waited til the last day after the champions league/ European qualifiers to recruit out the the bargain bin and cost us money in not qualifying. Get a grip man
We will sell before we buy, and still have all the bucks in the bank, can’t have the bonuses affected now can we?
Dougal 11 titles in 12 years and everything else which was won in that time would be laudable achievements had there been the same level of competition faced as Martin O’Neil faced or Gordon Strachan or Jock Stein had faced but there wasn’t was there?
During this spell of dominance the one time there was a credible challenge we failed miserably and Gerrard won the league.
Our own board was complicit in aiding him as they had become arrogant,dismissive,negligent and over confident believing that they were actually doing a great job when in reality they have been downsizing the quality of the playing squad season after season while banking vast profits under investing in real quality for the playing squad.
Unless they listen to the manager and back him there is a real chance that the richest league title in the history of Scottish football will be handed over to Ibrox giving them the financial lifeline that they so desperately need and if that happens then once again our “Custodians” will be complicit by their failure to run our club properly.
@🦵end07.. When did I say it was ok to sit back and do nothing to drive the team on? I think YOU need to get to 🤓 savers. So you say we have wasted millions on players over the years but you fail to mention the payers we have sold which we brought in and sold on for tens of millions; Jota , dembele, edouard, Ajer, Van Dijk, wanyama, all bought n sold on for massive profits. Name 1 team that doesn’t buy players n sometimes take a hit on them? The fact is, all the top European clubs with rich owners or big Sky money have been steadily getting bigger balances and more spending power than us and it ain’t go to change. Do you think if we spend 50 million on players we will suddenly become a European force? Look at Man U and Chelsea for example spending 300/500 million over 2/3 years and still getting pumped. Get a grip 🥸
Dougal is a member of the board there’s no point preaching to this clown we need to start voting with our feet and stop making lawwell a millionaire by giving him our money buy season tickets nothing else no CL tickets or any other merchandise
In reply to Frank Kennedy,l agree 100% with your assessment, bud.
I’ve been badgering people since this farce began with our board cocking a deaf ‘un to the Resolution 12 guys,stripping of titles,5WA etc.
I will NEVER give up my season book as l won’t let these parasitic bastards drive me away from the one constant in my life.
I will support Celtic FC till I die but stopped all other financial backing of the PLC when l cottoned onto Lawwell’s treachery.
He betrayed the Celtic family in favour of of his beloved Old Firm Franchise.
Sickening to think the huns would have,if the tables were turned,gleefully let us sink without trace.
This board and that Paddy cunt wae the golf clubs truly are a cancer in our club which needs urgent surgery.
How long before Rodgers cops the spur and fucks off back to England ?
Tic Toc !!!
Dougal
Our ratio of signings who have been a success is pathetic.
Are you saying that you would rather have, at last accounts, 73 million in the bank, rather than on far better quality on the park because you already see the situation of trying to compete with the top clubs as pointless.
Seriously?
Or, are you at the wind up?
William totally in agreement bud but lay off the PADDY pish
@Chris. I think you missed the point. People are saying signings have been pish but I don’t think they have been as bad as some are making out. I’m all for spending money to strengthen the team but i don’t see the point in spending 50m to compete in champions league as I think we would need way more than that to even come close to competing in Europe. Spend money to strengthen our position in the Spl yeh. Last word on this subject now. HH ☘️
Dougal
The summer window was horrendous, look at how few of the signings took part in the matches in just about the best group
going.
We aren’t even trying to compete, that’s the problem.
Rodgers explained clearly what was needed but we signed no one to compete at that level.
A disgrace.
A serious question : What can we , the fans , do to rid our club of both lawwells ?