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Football finance expert Dr. Dan Plumley has been left praising the profits that Celtic announced for the last financial year.

The Lowdown: £6.1m profit

Ange Postecoglou’s side announced last Tuesday that they had turned a profit of £6.1m before tax for the year ending 30th June 2022, during which they regained the Scottish Premiership title off of the hands of bitter rivals Rangers.

Their revenue over the same period totalled £88m, with £29m of that figure made up of transfer fees received for players.

The Latest: Celtic praised

Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley praised the Parkhead outfit for turning over a profit following the losses made due to the global pandemic, adding that the £29m they received in player trading was a ‘record’ for the club:

“They are a really, really positive set of figures.

“Revenue is up by 45 per cent. They have turned a loss into a profit following Covid.

“They have also had record player trading with £29m. You can have an argument about whether that is good or bad, but it’s a phenomenal amount of money to generate from the transfer side of things.

“There is a cash balance of £30m as well, which looks healthy. So, across the board, I think it’s a very positive set of figures for Celtic.

“You also have to factor in that it doesn’t include Champions League money from this season. So, you’d expect to see another uplift in revenue at least in the next set of accounts.

“As always, they are well set to dominate in Scotland. They are in pretty good financial health.”

The Verdict: Financial stability

The aim for the Hoops will now be to try and maintain a period of financial stability after the effects of the pandemic.

As Plumley mentions, they will be able to count on money gained from the UEFA Champions League for the next financial year, and could also generate significant revenue if they win the SPFL title again.

They are currently two points clear at the top of the table, so all is looking rosy at the moment for the Celts.

However, they will not want to sacrifice selling one or two of their top players either in order to help generate the funds, so will want to get themselves in a better position in order to fend off any interest.

Manchester United’s recent winning run came to an end in devastating fashion on Sunday afternoon, as Erik ten Hag’s side were simply blown away by rivals Manchester City following an imperious showing by the champions at the Etihad.

Having won four on the bounce after the debacle at Brentford, the Red Devils slipped back into old habits as they were put to the sword by Pep Guardiola’s side, eventually heading in at the break on the wrong end of a four-goal deficit – as had been the case on that grim night against the Bees.

Two stunning hat-trick’s from local lad Phil Foden and long-time United target Erling Haaland ensured a thoroughly deserved victory for the hosts, with the latter man bagging a treble for the third home game running to take his staggering Premier League tally to 14 goals in just eight games.

While a late double from substitute Anthony Martial – as well as an earlier stunner from summer signing Antony – provided some consolation for the away side, in truth the eventual 6-3 scoreline flattered them immensely, with the Old Trafford outfit once again left to lick their wounds after a derby drubbing.

On what was obviously a grim day defensively, the forward line also underwhelmed against a far from first-choice City lineup, with the home side without John Stones, while both Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias were only named on the bench.

A key villain was that of Marcus Rashford, with the academy graduate proving wholly ineffectual in leading the line, with Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville (02/10/2022, 15:15) stating that he – as well as teammate Scott McTominay – were “well below par” as they were substituted on the hour mark.

The Premier League’s Player of the Month for September was restricted to just 12 touches in that underwhelming display, although while he was starved of service the Englishman struggled to retain the ball when he had it, notably squandering possession on five occasions before his withdrawal.

The pacy forward wasn’t the only United figure to let the manager down in attack today, however, with teammate Jadon Sancho also doing little to make an impact against his former club, having notably been dubbed “passive and ineffective” by journalist Rob Blanchette.

The former Borussia Dortmund starlet spurned the chance to spark an early counter with an errant and lacklustre pass, with that mistake ultimately causing fatal as the Cityzens swiftly went up the other end to take the lead.

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With the game already beyond Ten Hag’s men, the £67.5m-rated playmaker then had the chance to further plump up the scoreline late on, although ultimately failed to control the ball with just opposition stopper Ederson to beat.

That moment seemingly epitomised what was a measly display in which he also lost possession once every 2.8 touches, while his match rating of 5.9, as per SofaScore, was the joint-third worst of any member of the United starting lineup on the day.

As Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted in his post-match player ratings, Sancho was also found wanting in a defensive sense as he ‘did little to protect’ teammate Tyrell Malacia, with the backline simply overrun by their opponents’ fluidity.

It didn’t get much better for the attacker in other areas with the big-money talent failing to complete a cross, failing to complete a dribble and failing to win a single defensive duel.

Such a showing seemingly illustrated just why he remains cast out from Gareth Southgate’s England squad at present – despite calls for his inclusion – with the £350k-per-week man still yet to prove value for money following his £73m arrival last summer.

As for the team as a whole, it truly was “men against boys” on the day – in the words of Blanchette – with the Ten Hag and co brought crashing back down to earth following their recent, short-lived revival.

Everton will host Manchester United at Goodison Park tonight in a fixture which couldn’t come at a better time for Frank Lampard, with his side currently unbeaten in their last six outings in the Premier League.

The Toffees manager will be feeling more confident than ever as his team has shown huge improvement and consistency, compared to the disaster of last season in their relegation scrap at the bottom of the table.

Lampard’s side currently match bitter rivals Liverpool for points in the Premier League table (10), and another three points against Erik ten Hag’s side could push the Toffees even higher up the table and into the top half, depending on the results around them today.

Despite their fine start to the campaign, Everton have only scored as many goals as they have conceded (seven), and although they have the best defensive record in the top flight, they will need to score far more often to compete comfortably over the season ahead.

As a result, the highly-anticipated return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin this weekend would be a massive boost in the forward line for the Toffees, and Lampard has hinted in his pre-match press conference that the talented striker will be in contention to start against the Red Devils.

The Everton boss revealed: “Yes, he’s in contention. He’s a good player for us, pivotal in us staying in the league last year and want to get him playing regularly.”

The £72k-per-week ace – who was hailed by Carlo Ancelotti for his “cold” finishing – has scored 58 goals and delivered 18 assists over his 191 appearances for the Merseysiders. He has been struggling on and off with injuries over the last 12 months, though, with his recent knee problem keeping him out of the team for the entire season so far.

However, Lampard will surely be delighted that the 25-year-old will be in contention for their tough run of fixtures ahead as the Toffees will face Man United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United over the next 10 days.

Calvert-Lewin has scored two goals and delivered two assists over his 11 previous meetings against the Mancunian giants, so he could be a complete game-changer tonight for the Toffees, and there is no doubt that Lampard must unleash him in the starting line-up.

Based on his scoring record for Everton, and his previous against the Red Devils, the 25-year-old could give Erik ten Hag and co nightmares at Goodison Park later.

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Amazon want to do an ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series with Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: ‘All or Nothing’ success

It has been reported that Chelsea are considering making an ‘All or Nothing’ documentary, after the popularity and success of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City’s own series.

Cameras captured City’s record-breaking 100-point season, followed Spurs throughout the initial COVID-hit summer of football, including the appointment of former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, and also showed the Gunners’ journey last season as they failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Supporters were able to see behind-the-scenes footage from match-days, training and key discussions at clubs, with some of the most controversial topics being filmed.

The Latest: Newcastle lined up

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs has revealed that Amazon now want to do a series with the St. James’ Park outfit, but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) ‘have some reservations’ over a potential documentary:

“Amazon also want to do a series with Newcastle, which could well come first. But there is no agreement yet in place. PIF have some reservations and want guarantees there will be no anti-Saudi angle.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

After the successes of the previous documentaries, the North East club should really consider making one of their own.

They recently celebrated their one-year anniversary since the Saudi consortium’s takeover on Tyneside, and the mood around the stadium has been lifted by the signings of big names like Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, as well as them climbing up to sixth place in the Premier League table through some impressive performances.

Thus, it would be so interesting to know what exactly is going on behind-the-scenes in the new regime, and how much the owners are actually directly involved in helping the club get back to where they feel that they belong.

Former Premier League forward Kevin Campbell has backed Newcastle United to sign Christian Pulisic in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Could be tempted

It was reported earlier this month that the American could be tempted by a move to St James’ Park in January, should the Magpies make the right offer for him.

The Chelsea winger has been limited to just 10 appearances so far this season and has not completed a full 90 minutes in the Premier League yet (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Campbell backs Pulisic move

Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell – who now contributes for Sky Sports – has backed Newcastle to sign Pulisic, claiming that the 24-year-old could ‘take them to the next level’.

The ex-Arsenal striker said: “I like Pulisic. He is a very good player.

“It has not worked out for him at Chelsea. He normally just comes off the bench. As an international, he wants to start games. He will feel he deserves to start games.

“I think he would benefit from a move to a club where he can play week in, week out. He needs to build himself back up.

“Could Newcastle offer him that? I think they could. Newcastle need players who can take them to the next level.

“Allan Saint-Maximin is unplayable on his day, but he is not always available. The best ability is availability. Saint-Maximin is just not available enough.”

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The Verdict: Needs more consistency

There is no doubt that Pulisic – likened to a ‘dragon’ by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig – has quality, as he has managed a total of 66 goals and 58 assists in his senior club and international career combined by the age of just 24.

He has also won the Champions League with Chelsea and has captained the USA national team.

However, £58m in 2019.

Pulisic is also earning a hefty £150,000 per week at Stamford Bridge, so it would be risky for Newcastle to pay out that much on an inconsistent performer.

Manchester United return to Premier League action this evening, taking on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and they will be looking to build on from an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The performance against Spurs was arguably the finest under Erik ten Hag so far and if they are to continue on building momentum, a win against Chelsea, who seem rejuvenated under Graham Potter, would be welcomed.

One thing is for certain, Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be part of the matchday squad against the London side. Ten Hag has dropped him after it emerged that the forward had refused to come on against Spurs in midweek.

With that in mind, we at Football Fancast predict the starting XI that the Dutchman will go with tonight under the Stamford Bridge floodlights…

David De Gea will start in goal and he will be aiming to record his fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Diogo Dalot will start again at right back, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, who are building a solid partnership, forming the heart of the defence. Luke Shaw completes the back four by featuring in his usual left-back position.

Brazilian duo Fred and Casemiro will make up the core of the United midfield, with the two receiving SofaScore ratings of 8.2 and 7.4 respectively for their impressive performances against Spurs.

This is where it gets a bit tricky for Ten Hag. Summer arrival Antony will start on the right wing, with Bruno Fernandes reprising his role against Spurs by slotting in behind the striker. With Ronaldo not in the matchday squad and Sancho’s form being hit or miss of late, Anthony Elanga will be given a start on the left wing.

Marcus Rashford, dubbed “very sharp” against Spurs by the UtdFaithfuls Twitter account will lead the line, despite failing to score from three shots on target against Spurs.

The £200k-per-week forward – who Manchester Evening News writer Rich Fay once dubbed  “a joy to watch” – has been in good form, however, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists in ten Premier League matches this season and will fancy his chances of adding to this tally against Chelsea.

Ten Hag will be hoping to replicate the midweek performance and secure another three points to bolster his side’s Champions League ambitions.

Sheffield Wednesday’s focus this season will be completely on earning promotion back to the Championship, which means it is perhaps unlikely that fans will see too many youngsters blooded into the first team.

Darren Moore has a huge amount of experience available to him in his first team but there are positives and negatives to be taken away from the fact that the Owls boast the highest average age of any League One side so far this season.

The average age of Moore’s starting teams has been 28.6, which suggests that he will soon have to turn towards younger players to replace the older ones in his side.

He could find a replacement for 31-year-old left-back Marvin Johnson in academy talent Joey Phuthi, with the teenager impressing in the U18 side in recent games.

The 17-year-old, who can play as both a left-back and a right-back, is yet to make his first-team debut for Sheffield Wednesday but will no doubt be well-known by Moore, especially after his performance in the FA Youth Cup last week.

The U18s beat Burton Albion on penalties to progress through, following in the footsteps of the first team who defeated Morecambe at Hillsborough to seal their own spot in round two.

When the Owls were trailing the Brewers, it was Phuthi who stepped up to provide a sensational assist for the equalising goal.

Sheffield Star reporter Joe Crann shared the footage of the youngster on Twitter, as he raced down the right-hand side after showing great skill and pace, before crossing the ball back for Bailey Cadamarteri to score.

Crann said: “Great assist from Joey Phuthi here. He’s come on loads in recent months, looks really exciting.”

A versatile, pacey full-back will have Sheffield Wednesday fans believing that he can step up as Johnson’s replacement in the first team in a few years, as the former Middlesbrough man has been re-imagined as a left-back under Moore’s management and has become a key player in the side, contributing four goals and 11 assists in 64 appearances for the Owls.

However, he is out of contract at the end of the season, so perhaps Phuthi could make the step up to the first team as his natural heir sooner rather than later.

It was just under three weeks ago that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag took the ruthless decision to banish Cristiano Ronaldo from his first-team squad following the Portuguese’s antics during the win over Tottenham Hotspur, with the 37-year-old having reportedly refused to come off the bench in the closing stages of that triumph.

Amid the collective euphoria of what was arguably the club’s best display of the season thus far, the former Real Madrid man somewhat soured the mood as he headed for the Old Trafford tunnel before the game was out, with many having wondered whether it may be the last image of the veteran marksman at the club.

Fast forward just a matter of games and United took to the field at Villa Park on Saturday with Ronaldo not only leading the line, but also wearing the captain’s armband, with Ten Hag having deemed it wise to welcome his high-profile asset back into the fold in recent matches.

Whether it is an act of appeasement or merely an act of necessity – amid injuries to the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial – the decision to reinstate the 191-cap machine has somewhat backfired for the former Ajax boss, with the £515k-per-week hotshot still struggling to fire in front of goal.

While the one-time Juventus ace did tee up his ‘protegee’ Alejandro Garnacho during Thursday’s 1-0 win over Real Sociedad, the £17.4m-rated man has largely struggled to make an impact in the final third this season, scoring just three goals in all competitions – two of which came against Europa League minnows, FC Sheriff.

The most recent clash with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa once again saw the prolific asset underwhelm in attack, having notably missed a gilt-edged headed chance midway through the first half, after directing his effort far too close to opposition ‘keeper, Emi Martinez.

The legendary ace cut an isolated and frustrated figure through the middle, having at one stage seemingly taken out his anger on Tyrone Mings as the pair engaged in an almost comical tussle inside the area.

On what was another quiet outing for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, the ruthless presence made just 25 touches in total – fewer than teammate David De Gea in the sticks (31) – with the serial-winner struggling to make an impact with his all-round game.

While Ten Hag had suggested that part of the fault lay with the striker’s teammates for making the “stupid” decision to deliver crosses into the box far too quickly, Tim Vigon suggested that Ronaldo is now a “full-blown issue” for the Red Devils due to his lack of mobility.

For all the accolades he has achieved throughout his career and the plethora of goals he has registered to date – 145 of which have come across his two spells in Manchester – it is hard to get away from the potential negative influence that the former Sporting Lisbon icon is having at the Theatre of Dreams at present.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has been reacting to Leeds United’s attempts to sign Birmingham City midfielder George Hall.

The Lowdown: New Leeds bid

The Whites appear to be real admirers of the 18-year-oldand attempted to sign him over the summer. Elland Road officials failed with a £3m move, but they are now readying a new offer, with reports suggesting that an agreement could even be reached before the January transfer window opens.

Hall has made 17 appearances in the Championship this season, scoring once and registering one assist.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

O’Rourke was speaking to GiveMeSport regarding the update on Leeds and Hall. The journalist described the teenager as a ‘very highly-rated player’ and believes that the Whites see him as a ‘potential star in the making’.

O’Rourke said: “I think Hall is a very highly-rated player. He’s already got good experience playing for Birmingham in the Championship.

“Leeds obviously see him as a potential star in the making. That’s why they’re making moves to try and sign him.”

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The Verdict: Ideal signing?

You’d expect that, should Leeds finalise a move for Hall, he would go into the club’s under-21 ranks or head back on loan to Birmingham for the second half of the season.

The Whites have gotten plenty of academy additions right in recent years, with the likes of Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk, Sam Greenwood, Joe Gelhardt and Crysencio Summerville all now considered regulars in the first-team squad.

Therefore, Hall could be the next to possibly break through into the senior side, and with Leeds willing to go back in with a new offer, they clearly must feel that he has the talent to go to the top.

There has been an update regarding the recently vacated managerial hot seat at Glasgow Rangers after Giovanni van Bronckhorst departed Ibrox…

What’s the news?

According to the Scottish Daily Express, former Peter Bosz is strongly in the running to take over the role of Rangers manager.

The Dutchman was sacked from Ligue 1 side, Lyon, in October following a poor run of form and therefore is currently a free agent.

Worse than Giovanni van Bronckhorst

The 47-year-old was sacked just over a year after taking charge of the Ibrox side, and recent results made the decision fairly straightforward for Ross Wilson.

He did lead Rangers to their first Scottish Cup in 13 years, while also reaching a historic Europa League final, but his negative style of play and woeful Champions League results meant he departs before Christmas.

Hiring his fellow countryman Bosz however, wouldn’t be the answer, especially with his lack of success on the continent. The 59-year-old has won just one honour in his managerial career to date, the Dutch second-tier title all the way back in 2004/05 with Heracles Almelo.

Despite managing clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Lyon in his career, he has only achieved a points per match average of 1.57 and his highest league finish was a runners up spot in 2016/2017 to rather typically, Van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord.

Journalist Josh Bunting described Bosz as “inconsistent” while also claiming that his spell with Dortmund was the “biggest disaster of the lot” and it’s hard to argue with this, especially considering the financial resources he has had at his disposal, not just at the Bundesliga side, but also in the Netherlands and France.

Writer Robin Bairner also criticised the coach when he was in charge of Lyon, dubbing a performance by his side as “woeful” and judging by this inconsistency and lack of honours at the top level, it’s clear he would be worse than Van Bronckhorst, a man who has already bettered him in the Eredivisie.

Wilson will ideally want someone in before the domestic season gets back underway on 15 December, however, this isn’t a decision that should be rushed, particularly with an important second half of the season looming on the horizon.