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6 points adrift but confident signs from Celtic

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The recruitment drive for central midfield players continues unabated with the pursuit of Australian international, Riley McGree (23). The player made 8 starts for Birmingham City last season, where he was used largely in a supporting role for the Championship side. This season, he became first choice after making his first start of the season on 20 October. Since then, he made a total of 10 starts before his loan deal ended on 31 December.

In short, Birmingham have done the heavy lifting to develop Riley into a Championship first team player. He is a year older than David Turnbull, a full and regular Australia international player and, if he joined Celtic, would rank alongside the three recent Japanese signings as first team considerations.

What does this move tell us about Celtic’s objectives? Often enough in the past, when we were nip and tuck in a title race, we would spend January trying to recruit loan signings from the EPL. The likes of Roy Keane, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Keane raised our game but were inexplicably short-term and often, as with of these star performers, failed to achieve their objectives.

This time we are recruiting players who have never competed for a league title in Europe, untested in Uefa competitions, who are by any measure, a risk. Sitting 6 points off the pace, this is a sign of confidence from Celtic. Why?

Ange clearly has confidence that his core group of players are good enough to claw back the deficit. He is not looking for a Roy Keane-type to shore up any area of the team. When injury and illness reduced his options, performance levels dropped. Celtic went 10 though a 10 game series in November and December where they only managed to win by more than one goal once. With Jota, Kyogo, Forrest and Jullien (!) back, you would fancy us to get the better of any domestic opponent.

Despite the enormous weight of consequences resting on this season’s title, Celtic are busy this month planning for the medium to long term. At the moment, it feels like the right strategy, we will find out for sure soon enough.

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  2. Tontine Tim on

    Yeeeessss GIRUPY ya scouse git Ⓒ Alf Garnett, not only a foul in the lead up but offside and a handball knocking it intae the net. You got away with stunts like that all the time you were at the coven.

  3. IniquitousIV on

    TONTINE TIM

     

    I often wonder if the football world, as manifested by the players and managers of other teams, are aware that Seethin’ G is being operated up the back?

  7. Tontine Tim on

    INIQUITOUSIV on 10TH JANUARY 2022 9:14 PM

     

     

    TONTINE TIM I often wonder if the football world, as manifested by the players and managers of other teams, are aware that Seethin’ G is being operated up the back?

     

     

    *no sure as it seems an insulated world back there

  9. TheLurkinTim on

    Lol…not one but 2 correct chopped off…Stevie G now managing in a semi-honest league…GIRFU ;-))

     

     

    H.H.

  11. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels

     

     

    From a very warm and sunny Melbourne garden.

     

    Waffles and raspberries being consumed excitedly before our exodus

     

    down to the Costa Del Mornington.

     

    Every conceivable thing you could use on a beach already jammed into

     

    the car lol.

     

    Quadrophenian

     

    Not seen you on for a while ? might come up the coast a bit to visit your

     

    beautiful beaches during the week..

     

    Hope everyone delighted the direction big Ange is taking our club ?

     

    Exiting times ahead I think.

     

    H H. Mick

  13. TheLurkinTim on

    Crikey Mick…could u not at least make yer life sound mundane 🤣 Am convinced the the lack of sunshine here will lead to me getting a SAD light. Enjoy, ya bastard: from a jealous Weegie 👍

     

     

    H.H.

  14. Tontine Tim on

    INIQUITOUSIV on 10TH JANUARY 2022 9:28 PM

     

     

    Maloney very busy in the transfer market for Hibs. Another signing today.

     

     

    *lets wish him well although not in his first game a week the day, he could be our next manager, we do have a history of stealing from the Leith louts lol.

  15. petec on

    If we get Jota and CCV signed on Permanent deals, despite the obvious NONSENSE by the LRA. I think we will overwhelm them.

     

     

    Well Done the Board backing Ange strongly.

     

     

    Last Season for me if we are….. having Medical records a Criteria.

     

     

    The Pandemic is playing out its course.

     

     

    I’ve never been so excited watching a Celtic Team – Truth be Told as well. I didnae see the Lions.

  16. TheLurkinTim on

    Tontine…am curious…given that he’s not managed anywhere, so we can’t hav a measure of the man, why would u consider him as a possibe future Celtic manager?

     

     

    H.H.

  20. Tontine Tim on

    THELURKINTIM on 10TH JANUARY 2022 9:37 PM

     

     

    Tontine…am curious…given that he’s not managed anywhere, so we can’t have a measure of the man, why would u consider him as a possible future Celtic manager?

     

     

    *It all depends on how he performs at Easter Road.

  22. TheLurkinTim on

    Tontine…so not based on how much he’s learned under Martinez and working with the Belgian FA…thank you…I’m of the opinion that, although it bolsters his CV, he really needs to shine on his own…we shall see.

     

     

    H.H.

  23. Tontine Tim on

    THELURKINTIM on 10TH JANUARY 2022 9:45 PM

     

     

    Tontine…so not based on how much he’s learned under Martinez and working with the Belgian FA…thank you…I’m of the opinion that, although it bolsters his CV, he really needs to shine on his own…we shall see.

     

     

    *Exactly, some assistants and coaches can’t make the step up.

  25. TheLurkinTim on

    Tontine…got to admit there’s a part of me that was thinking you’re already speculating about replacing Ange…which is fair enuff…but lets enjoy his rollercoaster whilst it lasts ;-))

     

     

    H.H.

  27. tonyrome on

    Almore on 10th January 2022 9:00 pm

     

     

    TonyRome: All good here. Sipping on a healthy cappuccino in my local middle class café.

     

     

    Antigen test no longer required coming back to Dublin so will look to book a few more flights soon.

     

     

    —————————————————————————————–

     

     

    Your carriage awaits.

     

     

    KEEP THE FAITH

  29. Tontine Tim on

    THELURKINTIM on 10TH JANUARY 2022 10:00 PM

     

     

    Tontine…got to admit there’s a part of me that was thinking you’re already speculating about replacing Ange…which is fair enuff…but lets enjoy his rollercoaster whilst it lasts ;-))

     

     

    *No not a bit but as WGS once said every manager/coach has a shelf life and Angie won’t be there for ever so lets not get caught with our pants down like we did with wee lenny.

  30. tonyrome on

    THE LURKIN TIM

     

     

    I just hope I can make it these two big bhoys start early. It would be nice to catch up.

     

     

    KEEP THE FAITH

  33. Saint Stivs on

    MADMITCH on 10TH JANUARY 2022 7:52 PM

     

    Stx2 aka Yeti @ 4.11

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I say Yeti because you are the Abominable No-man of CQN.

     

     

     

     

    Nothing positive to say regarding our much needed growth agenda.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ——–

     

     

    badge

     

     

    of honour

  34. Melbourne Mick on

    TLT

     

     

    Remember those lights were introduced to offshore nightshift

     

    workers who never seen sunlight for weeks, depending on how

     

    many weeks they worked.

     

    Lack of sunlight seemed to make them very sad and depressed,

     

    I thought they were all just Huns, as Celtic were winning all before

     

    them at the time. 😂

     

    Norrie

     

    Only ever seen him with the Aussie team and thought him to be

     

    a mix between Armstrong and McGinn type player as someone

     

    already said, definitely an Ange type.

     

    Off now bhoys,ghirls, wee Grace pulling me out the door lol.

     

    H. H. Mick

  35. Hot Smoked on

    Madmitch (Aka MM).

     

     

    I read your 8:21pm post because it caught my eye as, at a glance , there did not appear to be any of your trademark abreviations. I found it easy to understand and quite informative. I did, therefore, smile when I saw this immediately after your atypically clear post:

     

     

    “MADMITCH on 10TH JANUARY 2022 8:22 PM

     

    Something lost in translation — hopefully you get the gist.”

     

     

    :-)))))))

     

     

    `night all.

  36. prestonpans bhoys on

    Thank you everyone for birthday greetings, made it back to my rented cottage in Bowness on Windermere for a gin before bed🍸🍸

  38. Hot Smoked on

    One quick post before bed.

     

    The BBC site seems to have a love in with Gerrard.

     

    Their headline proclaimed a `Dominant Aston Villa`. I would say that the stats below hardly support that claim.

     

     

    Home43%Away57%

     

    Shots

     

    Home7Away4

     

    Shots on Target

     

    Home5Away2

     

    Corners

     

    Home6Away6

     

    Fouls

     

    Home8Away1

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