With one domestic cup in the bag, after a brilliant League Cup win in December, Fran Alonso and his Celtic FC Women’s team now have their sights firmly set on a Cup double.
Sunday saw the Hoops defeat theRangers for the second time in cup competitions this season, as they defeated their rivals 2-1 to set up a Scottish Cup Quarter Final tie away to Aberdeen on 3 April. That win was no mean feat considering the size of theRangers expensively assembled squad – apparently their budget for the season is an incredible £1.2m – and the fact they are unbeaten in domestic football this season against every other side bar Celtic and Celtic were missing through injury, Charlie Wellings, their 24-goal top scorer.
Yet over the course of this SWPL1 league campaign Celtic’s consistency doesn’t quite reach the heights of their two main rivals in theRangers and Glasgow City. Given Fran Alonso has evidenced in one off games against both rivals that he can match these teams tactically, then it’s hard not to point to the respective size of the squads, the quality, and strength in depth that gives our rivals and edge over a long season, because in one-off encounters Fran Alonso has proven both those sides’ cards are marked.
At present Celtic lie seven points behind theRangers in the SWP1 title race, who also have a game in hand, meaning bar a collapse of Devon Loch proportions, Celtic are now looking to a second consecutive year as a runner-up at best and hopefully a second shot at Champions League football later this year. However even that task will be no easy feat as there is little room for error now, as having lost to Glasgow City in controversial circumstances last Thursday, the Hoops now trail City by five points in the chase for that Champions League spot.
It is clear however that Celtic’s main asset is Fran Alonso. He has proven himself tactically astute and has punched above his weight as Celtic’s Head Coach. What he can’t do however is perform miracles, and with a younger, smaller and less experienced squad than both of his title rivals, Alonso may grow tired of turning up to a gun fight with a pea-shooter, meanwhile the work he has done won’t be going unnoticed in the cash rich environs of the Women’s Super League.
Alonso seems a happy man at Celtic for now, however he’ll be aware of his own worth and its therefore important Celtic realise that too. If Fran Alonso’s head is not to be turned and he’s to be satisfied in his own work, then Celtic need to prioritise as strong a squad as possible for next season and allow the manager to have the tools at his disposal comparable to those of his rivals.
Celtic are only three or four experienced players away from being a side who can fight for all three domestic trophies, at present it appears the options available to our title rivals is what gives them the edge over the course of a long season. That is something Celtic could remedy by investing in both Fran Alonso and his ambitions for this Celtic team.
Meanwhile off the park a look at the infrastructure supporting the team could also benefit Celtic’s long-term chances. The Celtic support are keen to engage with women’s football, we’ve even seen an increase in interest in our coverage at the Celtic Star, but we are also aware of what holds us back.
Supporters wish to attend games and Celtic need to be playing in Glasgow. At present the Penny Cars stadium is a fine ground for the games themselves, it’s a good-sized pitch and it suits Celtic’s style of play, but for a supporter taking a family to the game the location in Airdrie is prohibitive. You really do need to drive to attend the games at that particular stadium, and if the men’s team happen to be playing on the same day it can be nigh on logistically impossible to attend both matches.
There will be occasions where Celtic could play two games at Celtic Park, however what perhaps would be most beneficial at present would be to have a redeveloped Barrowfield used to play Celtic’s game in going forward. This could feasibly be shared with Tommy McIntyre’s B side and it would give the opportunity, by arranging kick off times appropriately, for Celtic supporters to be able to attend both the men’s and the women’s games.
Even if that was not possible, having the games in Glasgow at least would allow those reliant on public transport or those who live withing walking distance of the East end to attend more games. Celtic should not underestimate the impact a passionate Celtic support could have on the on-field performances and in turn points tally for Fran Alonso’s team.
Fran Alonso and his Celtic side are a source of great pride for the Celtic support and women’s football in general continues to grow at an astonishing rate, the money available to the club is really not being tapped into, nor is there it would appear, real recognition as to just how far a properly funded and marketed Celtic FC Women’s team could become.
In his recent announcement of the half yearly financial results, chairman Ian Bankier was happy to celebrate the League Cup success of Fran Alonso and his Celtic side, perhaps a little more ambition and investment in that team would result in a side capable of challenging for League titles as well as cups going forward.
With the access to the Champions League money that would entail, Celtic need only speculate to accumulate for a short period of time. It would not take long for Celtic to be entirely self-sustainable as a side once access to that financial exposure kicks in, and with it a raising of Celtic’s profile in the women’s game and an ability to attract quality additions to the squad.
Fran Alonso has shown he’s the man for such a job, now it’s vital his vision is fully backed by those who hold the purse strings.
Niall J
