reasons to be cheerful

The winning of the league title this season has been a foregone conclusion for a while now - arguably since we beat Rangers 3:0 in January - but this should not obscure the fact that, by anybody's standards, this has been a truly remarkable campaign. Of course the record books will have to be rewritten yet, but there are more reasons for us to reflect on 2003-04 with a great deal of smug self-satisfaction.

Firstly, although the Hoops were unable to repeat the high of last season in the UEFA Cup, a quarter-final berth is a better return than plenty other top names managed, and that's not forgetting that we came within a few minutes of qualifying from a Champions League group which included two clubs who are about to win their domestic titles again this year, with Bayern Munich thrown in for good measure. For all it would have been great to have made further progress, our reputation as competent opposition at this level was hardly dented - nor was that of our supporters.

In addition, amidst all the speculation about players arriving at Celtic Park, what should be remembered is that, possibly for the first time in recent years, most of our recognised first team picks are either tied to the club for the next few years or, more significantly, have just signed extensions to their contracts. The news that Sutton and Thompson have pledged their immediate futures to Celtic suggests that the attraction of playing in front of 60,000 fans every other week with regular and prolonged episodes of European football must be pretty strong, aside from the lucrative financial inducements involved.

Compare this situation with the days when the end of the season would signal the inevitable departure of a raft of important players. There's no need to list them all, but you only have to look at what's happening at Mordor to see the effects on the playing side of things as a result of mismanagement at boardroom level.

While those Rangers supporters gullible enough to allow the press to lull them into another summer of delusion with fanciful stories of imminent big money transfer deals sit back and wait for the wheel of fortune to magically transport them back to the top, we can afford to shake our heads in pity and consign our own period of trading down - from McClair to Payton to Biggins almost in consecutive seasons - to the collective subconscious, only to be relieved as part of regressive hypnotherapy.

Not only are Celtic managing to hold on to star players, for once, the youth system has provided us with a steady stream of players who have managed to force their way into contention for first team places. Over the last couple of seasons we have seen the emergence of Maloney, Miller, Kennedy and Marshall. That must in itself give encouragement to the next promising batch that the coveted first team spot is up for grabs if they have the ability. 11% of first team starts are now youth products and this figure is set to rise shortly. Aiden McGeady is one outstanding talent on the verge of breaking through, but there are others, such as Quinn, McGlinchey and Gardyne, just as desperate to be part of the Celtic set-up.

Recent media publicity surrounding the club's youngsters has highlighted something that the press have tried hard to ignore, so obsessed have they been with gawking at Murray Park: Celtic have the most comprehensive youth structure in Scotland and since OFM has been involved it has gone from strength to strength. As John Stephenson pointed out in a recent interview in the Sunday Herald, 'It's not the facilities that produce players, it's the quality of teaching.'

As we go to press the Under-21s are about to win the league (71 points with their Auchenhowie counterparts in third place on 60 points) while the Under -19s need to overhaul a three point gap on Rangers to win their division. For a club to win the three leagues in the same season is without precedent. If nothing else, the future looks a rosy shade of green.

All of which does nothing to imply that OFM has been dropping any kind of hints that he is about to up sticks and walk away. On the contrary, we'd like to think that he'd prefer to stay for a while and watch the results of all this hard work at the grass roots level bear fruit, if you'll pardon the mixed metaphor.

Nonetheless, there are undoubtedly challenges to be faced at first team level if Celtic are to maintain the extraordinary progress made since 2001 and it would seem to make sense to address these challenges from a position of strength. While the current team is good it's not so good that it can't be improved. Weaknesses have been punished in Europe and while it would be going a bit far to read too much into our most recent league form, results such as the home defeat against Aberdeen have once again served merely to highlight areas where the team and the squad need improved.

One obvious factor with the current squad is that they are ageing. We have had basically the same team for the last few years. These players have served Celtic well since MON arrived but, realistically, their best days are behind them rather then lying ahead. The old adage that if you're good enough you're old enough can apply to players at both ends of the age spectrum but it's an undeniably unpleasant fact that we now have too many players over 30. Time, perhaps, for an influx of new blood.

Where to strengthen? Well, if you believe that the best teams are built on the solid foundations offered by a quality defence then perhaps even more important than replacing Henrik Larsson is the need to sign some quality defenders.

Young Marshall is proving that we are perhaps rather better covered for goalkeepers than we have been for several seasons, but we have lost games in Europe this season because of poor defending. Cut out the mistakes at the back and you may draw games you would otherwise lose and win games you might otherwise have drawn. With Kennedy out until next season and taxis waiting for both Mjallby and Valgaeren we could be three defensive players down come the start of next season. Ulrik Laursen has spent most of this season injured so he can hardly be viewed as a reliable first team contender. Too much is being asked of Balde and Varga. This, added to the lack of competition to both of them, may go some way to explaining why Balde, in particular, has not been as effective this season as in the past.

We also have no natural left back. Indeed given Jackie McNamara's versatility it could be argued we don't have any natural full backs. He is being asked to play left back which for a natural right footed player is no long term answer.

In midfield we have again relied on the quartet of Lennon, Petrov, Agathe and Thompson. They have been the team's engine for the best part of four seasons now and MOT time is fast approaching. Stephen Pearson has been a welcome addition to the midfield but a better balance in the middle of the park is still required. A flair player - at least one - would not go amiss, and some genuine challengers to the wide players would also be a boost. That might also help the manager produce a more balanced team when he plays four, rather than five, in midfield. Some more quality players in the midfield would definitely help improve the tactical options available to MON.

Up front MON has the daunting task of finding a replacement for Henke. Rather him than me! A fully fit Sutton and Hartson backed up by Maloney and, perhaps, Beattie would offer a favourable starting point as far as domestic competition goes. However, to compete successfully in Europe means we have to get a better class of forward in. Competition for such a goalscoring player is tough as the truth is that Celtic, like every team in Europe, are looking for a reliable goalscorer; one who can contribute 30-40 goals per season in Scotland and also score against the best teams in Europe.

If we are going to rely on Hartson and Sutton then we definitely need to get two decent wingers who can regularly beat full backs and get good crosses into the box. Thompson and Agathe offer a lot but they are hardly in the Jimmy Johnstone mould.

So when MON says he needs five or six players, at least, before next season I would agree with him. At least two, possibly three, defenders are a must as are two or three midfield players and a goalscoring forward. If he can get players of the required quality to bolster the squad as indicated above for around the rumoured £6m the board are likely to make available to him then walking on water should be nice and easy by comparison.

The truth is Celtic are at a potential crossroads. New faces are required but money is tight. It's up to MON, with as much assistance as the board can offer, to bring these players in, in order to allow Celtic to continue to progress. If he gets it wrong we start to slide back toward the level of mediocrity so prevalent among our domestic rivals. If he gets it right it would be nice to not only dream the dream but experience the reality of more European glory nights.

GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE
and a Gentleman