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6 points adrift but confident signs from Celtic

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  8. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    An Tearmann,

     

    Yes, ’twas I. Paying homage to my Italian heritage with Bella Ciao.

     

     

    Almore,

     

    It has been a good couple of days, Celtic wise and this morning, I got the better of Revenue.ie.

     

     

    Unfortunately, the FA never got the memo re penalty to Stevie’s team.

  13. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Gerrard (who seems to project an image of a man who might attack a DJ and get involved in street brawls) doing his usual souring of the milk post-match.

     

     

    If that same game had been played out under the jurisdiction of a Scottish referee who performed to Gerrard’s expectations …

     

     

    … it would’ve ended 1-3.

     

     

    Nae luck son. Get used to it.

  20. David66 on

    Good morning all from a dark, damp Garngad

     

     

    We have done well in the transfer market so far but if there are another couple of players that would fit into Ange’s way of thinking then go get them Celtic.

     

     

    I would be more happy with another couple in.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D :)

  22. DeniaBhoy on

    Only real surprise in the window is that no one has triggered Hagi’s 20 million get out of dodge clause.

  24. McPhail Bhoy on

    That Hagi 20 million get it clause is dependent on the following;

     

    Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final

     

    Scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final

     

    Scoring the winning goal in the Petrofac cup final

     

    Knowing all the words of ‘The Sash’, verse 4 and 5 being particularly tricky

  27. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Denia & McPhail Bhoys,

     

     

    Lol re Hagi.

     

     

    Amid the mirth there is (IMHO) a serious point to be made?

     

     

    None of us know (precisely) how precarious the Sevco finances are ….

     

     

    … but there are indicators.

     

     

    I get the impression – from the meagre crumbs since the transfer window opened – things are at the upper end of BAD.

     

     

    Why else would we have had (e.g.)

     

     

    – Orwellian trumpeting of Patterson transfer

     

    (the boy was supposed to be the great white hope for Scottish football. He’s gone. They are weaker)

     

     

    – Hagi buy out clause repeats

     

     

    – Sevco squad is “stable” staples

     

     

    – blasts from the past. Nacho “why I choose Sevco over …. blah blah”

     

     

    Chuck in a share issue that didn’t rate a mention in the SMSM ?

     

     

    …. Hhmm

  29. Coneybhoy on

    Hot Smoked

     

     

    You mentioned the BBC and Gerrard fawning earlier.

     

     

    During commentary last night, they stated that he had won 2 FA cups and managed sevco to 3 quarter finals of the scottish cup.

     

     

    Quarter final is bare minimum expectation for them or us!!!

  32. Coneybhoy on

    DAVID66 on 11TH JANUARY 2022 7:01 AM

     

    Good morning all from a dark, damp Garngad

     

    We have done well in the transfer market so far but if there are another couple of players that would fit into Ange’s way of thinking then go get them Celtic.

     

    I would be more happy with another couple in.

     

    HH

     

    ——-

     

    mobile striker as Kyogo back up is a priority for me. Doesn’t have to have a world beating pedigree, just the physical qualities and potential.

     

     

    It’s funny but Klimala would have loved the current style. Don’t think he could finish though, hence why we bumped him (to be fair, it may have been a financial decision)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    D :)

  33. Tom McLaughlin on

    Crowd restrictions DEFINITELY ending on Monday 17th. All will be revealed in less than 3 hours.

     

     

    Happy days.

  34. David66 on

    MARTIN O’SEVILLE on 11TH JANUARY 2022 10:56 AM

     

    ——————–

     

     

    Martin – :) That made me laugh.

     

     

    D :)

  35. David66 on

    Coneybhoy – I actually think Giamakus (spelling) could do us a turn but he needs to stay fit and try and grab his chance.

     

     

    That said I think there is a player there.

     

     

    D :)

  36. McPhail Bhoy on

    Back to Basics – Glass Half Full

     

     

    Agreed but will we ever find out? That is until this incarnation gets a bill they can’t refuse, is that Big Mike’s as reported on a couple of weeks ago? Surely the court cases have to end and a final, FINAL judgement made meaning thta they have to hand over the cash, we live in hope. Scottish football, society and Celtic would be so much better off without them existing in any form.

  38. CaddingtonCommon on

    BBC now joining SKY in ridiculous fawning over Slippy.

     

    Steven Gerrard’’s Villa etc.

     

    Villa fans not too pleased about that.

     

    Hail Hail

     

    Stay Safe

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