We have watched Celtic through many transfer windows but I don’t think we have ever hit as many targets before – both in terms of who we brought in and who we moved out.
It is still early in the season but Kyogo Furuhashi (26) looks every inch a superstar in hoops. Two years ago we pondered who was better, Edouard or Dembele, without reaching a clear conclusion. Today, Kyogo would be first pick from the three of them. It has been 17 years since we have seen a striker with such promise – so no pressure, Kyogo.
The first assumption is that Georgios Gialouakis (26) will have to wait on Kyogo being rested to make his mark. With a long season ahead, who knows? Georgios offers an aerial target that we have missed for many years, there could be occasions when he is preferred, or when both are used.
I hear great things about Josip Juranovic (26) from Zbyszek. He was a stand out for Legia last season and no one there is happy he has left. He gets forward, has an end product and can defend. The defence is already vastly more stable than it was last season, the addition of Jura should help.
Carl Starfelt (26) is frustratingly difficult to assess. He is good on the ball, fast, and reads the game well enough to cover for teammates. Then there are the mistakes that cost goals. At the same stage of Christopher Jullien’s Celtic career, the French defender was sitting on the bench, unable to win a place in the team that exited the Champions League. Christopher soon settled, Carl must do the same.
That’s four 26-year-olds added at their athletic peak. Not often we do that.
Paying £3.6m for a 19-year-old from Israeli football is at the higher end of what Maccabi Petah Tikva could have hoped for. Liel Abada’s instant return in goals and assists indicates why they got that figure. He is the youngest of the 12 signings this window and will continue to develop for years.
Joe Hart (34) is by some margin better than any of the three keepers who shuffled through the starting line-up last season. He has already brought authority – as well as saves (!) – to the team.
Five years ago, James McCarthy (30) was miles out of our reach. The subsequent seasons have not been kind, as the player’s appearance stats were subverted by various injuries. 30 minutes into his Celtic career, he again missed out through injury. James has controlled games in the EPL. If we get him fit, he will play in our most important games. Let’s hope.
Filipe Jota (22) has skill and incredible pace. Last season he was on loan at Real Valladolid, who finished 19th in La Liga and were relegated. There is a rule of thumb I used whenever Patrick Roberts moves. Patrick is a slight and skilful player, similar to Jota, but since leaving Celtic, Patrick has mostly played for teams at the bottom end of the table, where robust defending is required, often at the cost of creative players. The slight, pacey and skilful players should ply their trade with clubs operating at the top end of the table.
There is development work ahead for Jota but he starts from a respectable high.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ (23) signing was not quite as late as John Guidetti (another story) but he slipped through the window with minutes to spare. My big worry about central defence is that I don’t expect Christopher Jullien to contribute much before Christmas (he is a slow starter to the season), leaving us short of cover for the Europa League.
Jota and Cameron both have the incentive of a permanent deal with Celtic to play for. This worked well for Odsonne, let’s hope for the same.
Liam Scales (23) is the same age as Cameron and will hope to force his way into either central defence or left back. £500k is decent money to pay for a League of Ireland player, his addition should ensure we do not force Nir Bitton back into the middle of the back line again.
Liam Shaw (20) and Osaze Urhoghide (20) are unlikely to see much game time this season.
Do you want to know how important it is that we sold Odsonne Edouard and (to a lesser extent) Ryan Christie? Wait and see what happens across the city, where a team who publicly made it known they needed to sell players were unable to do so.
You either manage your assets or you fail to manage your assets and they expire looking more like liabilities. Under different circumstances, Odsonne, Ryan and Kristoffer Ajer would have been sold a year ago, but the decision was made to retain them for the 10-in-a-row season. I know, you all said “Sell them!” at the time………
None of them attracted clubs of the calibre that Kieran and Moussa did. That we got north of £30m for them from EPL bottom dwellers is above my expectations. There are deductions for sell-on clauses, of course, but this money, in addition to the revenue from Jeremie Frimpong (minus sell-on) and Patryk Klimala will have a huge impact on Scottish football in the years ahead.
Leigh Griffiths moved on, thank goodness. Boli Bolingoli and Vasilis Barkas did not, both will wither on the vine.
So, are we going to win the league? I’m feeling good about it.
398 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
Second, behind Ralstini
Hrvatski Jim – Good luck with the covid.
Many spikes in our work at the moment.
Blogger – A QR code will be available to download that maybe help with access to CP.
D :)
DAVIDOPOULOS on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 3:49 PM
I thought CCV was a big lump of a bhoy until I saw him next to his super-heavyweight dad !
HJ- ATB HH
Looks like we’re going to require a vaccine certificate to get access to matches in the foreseeable future. The First Minister will open a parliamentary debate next week with a proposal to make vaccine passports mandatory for events with more than 10,000 spectators.
Passports/certificates will be issued to everyone who has been double-jabbed, commencing this Friday.
I would say this is an improvement in customer service.
Earlier communication with an option to “opt out” of the rescheduled match.
And now the area for improvement.
As much as the £72 (benchmarked against the others at £112) is excellent for the celtic das, and the concession price for the grandas is good as well, I think its a bit of a scalping for the under 13s.
Keep up the good work Dom (Lawwells puppet).
————–
Dear Stephen
The Celts are set for Europa League group stage action, and as you are on the Home Cup Ticket Scheme, your seat is secured for all three home fixtures.
Here’s how the European schedule is shaping up for the Celts:
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen | Thu, Sept 30 | KO 8pm
Celtic v Ferencvarosi TC | Tue, Oct 19 | KO 3:30pm
Celtic v Real Betis | Thu, Dec 9 | KO 8pm
Your 3 Match Package is priced at:
Adult Package – £72
Concession Package – £57
Under 13 Package – £42
As you will probably have read, due to the Cop26 Conference taking place in Glasgow, our second home match will kick-off at the unusual time of 3.30pm. Recognising the inconvenience that this scheduling may cause we want to provide our HCTS members with some flexibility. Therefore we are pleased to announce that, as a one-off variation to our relevant T’s & C’s, those Season Ticket holders on the Home Cup Ticket Scheme will have the option to opt-out of purchasing the Celtic v Ferencvarosi TC match without the inconvenience of having to come off the HCTS.
If you are not able to attend the Ferencvarosi TC game, you can opt-out by completing our online opt-out form by 5pm Monday, September 20.
OPT-OUT FOR FERENCVAROSI TC >>
Your seat will be secured for either 2 or 3 matches, and subject to payment being received on the below dates your Season Ticket will be activated for the relevant matches.
Thursday, September 9
Thursday, October 7
Thursday, November 4
Your Direct Debit will be collected on these dates in accordance with our relevant T’s & C’s. Please note if you opt-out of Ferencvarosi by 5pm on Monday, September 20 then the payment on Thursday, October 7 will not be collected.
You can keep up-to-date with all info on our UEL ticketing page and also access the Season Ticket Terms & Conditions and Home Cup Ticket Scheme Terms & Conditions online.
Please note, for the avoidance of doubt these games will not be available on the Pass to Paradise through the virtual service element of your Season Ticket.
BURNLEY78 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 4:21 PM
Ernie
‘Can you explain how someone who has been vaxed is less likely to pass on the bug than someone who has tested and shows negative ?’
###
Two initial points.
1. The vaccine reduces the chance of contracting Covid.
‘Coronavirus infections three times lower in double vaccinated people’
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/227713/coronavirus-infections-three-times-lower-double/
2. Vaccinated people who contract Covid are less infectious.
‘COVID vaccines slash viral spread – but Delta is an unknown’
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02054-z
Why do you trust the testing regime, but distrust the vaccination scheme?
Most tests are self administered. Relying on them is ridiculous.
For those on the HTCS,you can opt out of the Ferencvaros game,if KO time doesn’t suit you
Said it last night, was a good window, about as good as we could hope for. Don’t understand some of the negativity and PL dross.
Future is looking bright and it’s green and white. Excited to see where this team goes.
overall happy with the progress – getting rid of wantaways , developing existing players and bringing in exciting players.
CCV will add depth but as I’ve said from day 1 – we need areal power and I’m not sure he brings that. Therefore surprised he appeared to be our only option and we were lucky to get him after spurs reached out last min.
Looking forward to Georgios getting on the end of quality crosses from both wings and hoping we can get an extra yard from McCarthy for midfield strength.
Rangers are desperate this season – Gerrard “will defend with our lives” – they need the champs league money so badly. When rangers are desperate , they dive, they cheat, they use the media for siege mentality – get the refs on board and its difficult for celtic even if we have a great season!
This is where we need the club to stand up!
I see big Scales has the #5 shirt…..following in the footsteps of previous legends Van Dijk, Stubbs and McGugan….
Interestingly big GG’s no. 99 is a shirt not worn since Scott Allan dropped it on the way out in 2016…
And worryingly Carl is wearing big Duffy’s old shirt….
Breaking shirts news……
Vaccine passport – what if you don’t live in Scotland?
I finally have my Irish/Euro one
glendalystonsils
Sign big Poppa Carter as the back-up goalie…
HJ
Get much better, very soon, my friend.
FWIW – my opinion is that the Scottish Government is trying to chase a virus horse that that had already started to bolt even before the return to schools, paradise, pubs, etc.
HH jg
I am actually looking forward to a midweek afternoon kick off time, how very retro.
1952 Celtic Park. Nae High Pylons.
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/Py1QDhTLo1RNeY5NPr1I1w55671
DAVIDOPOULOS on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 3:49 PM
Good wee video, cheers!
Ernie
Read the article in full not just the headline.
Nothing to do with delta on this Israeli study. They also say sample is too small.
Ernie
I understand your self administered issue though.
So who is gonnae enforce the vaccine passport @ Celtic Park – or is it a new QR code?
CONEYBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 4:58 PM
Vaccine passport – what if you don’t live in Scotland?
I finally have my Irish/Euro one
—————————————-
In my business we are helping international companies to understand the vaccination status of their people as they cannot get into some work sites without proof. We are collecting evidence from many countries which will be the equivalent of the UK NHS database and a source like the EU / Irish will be as acceptable.
For a “modest” fee, we can help Celtic with this (at the expense of the January transfer window)
I have not been as excited about going to see the Celts since the 80s. Global Governance is likely gonnae take it away. Such is Life.
Come on the Hoops wearing the shirts. Ange is the Man.
On your second vaccine appointment letter there are credentials to login to NHS and ask for a copy of double vaccination to be sent to your house. They might even produce an app but don’t know if CP can handle that, the ST scanner should not be the same thing as a QR
BURNLEY78 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 5:10 PM
The main reason for insisting on vaccine passports is that those who have been vaccinated but who contract covid have less serious symptoms and are less likely to require hospital treatment.
Personally I think the authorities are playing with fire by allowing mass events.
The real risk is a deadly variant for which the vaccine is ineffective.
The more the virus circulates the more likely it is to mutate.
Time will tell.
Maybe its the vaccine that is the real danger to humanity .
Right on cue
Hrvatski Jim or others – In your opinion will employers in the near future be allowed to ask employees if they have had the vaccine or are they going to get it. If not why not?
Also will employers be allowed to employ only future employees based on their vaccine status?
I think we are heading that way, maybe not for a while but heading for it nonetheless.
A lot of employment law question probably.
My HR department
Thanks in advance for any advice.
D :)
Pretty soon we’ll be needing a Passport to Paradise….
FEAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)
Hrvatski Jim
As a matter of interest, did you participate in the ‘Let’s all do the Huddle’ at the St. Mirren game?
Getting a vaccine after contracting a virus makes absolutely no sense.
David66
My wife is a global HR director for a company with a v considerable US presence. The potential for litigation from either/both sides of the argument there is off the scale ref risk and complexity.
No less complex a balance for us here, albeit without the $Ms lawsuits!
It’s all about civil liberties – but whose??
HH jg
Why we urnae doing Antibody tests to stop people compromising their Immune Systems in this situation is baffling…. Not really.
I love Cornflakes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLwc9lbJlIQ
Petec
You shouldnae mate!
Bad for you.
Higher salt content than sea water, I once heard a cardiologist say!
Cannae win!
HH jg
PETEC on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 5:55 PM
‘Getting a vaccine after contracting a virus makes absolutely no sense.’
####
‘Among Kentucky residents infected with SARS-CoV-2 in 2020, vaccination status of those reinfected during May–June 2021 was compared with that of residents who were not reinfected. In this case-control study, being unvaccinated was associated with 2.34 times the odds of reinfection compared with being fully vaccinated.’
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7032e1.htm?s_cid=mm7032e1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM63289&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Early%20Release%20-%20Vol.%2070%2C%20August%206%2C%202021&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM63289
They want every man woman and child injected with something that hasn’t been tested properly .
They wont even tell whats in the jabs. We are finding out why.
Everything that the “conspiracy theorists” warned about is becoming reality by the day.
Welcome to Orwells 1984 on steroids.
And its going to take a lot worse.
David66
Great questions but I could not tell you the answers for less than a 7 figure fee.
GDPR, medical confidentiality, different rules in various countries about personal consent to disclose data, employees’ right to refuse to participate, vaccines makes/country of delivery being accepted/rejected by different states.
Then, boosters, immunity tests, acceptance of exposure to COVID.
Then border immigration rules, travel procedures at different airports, re-immigration measures.
Its now up to an 8 figure fee.
We are heading for this now. I expect that employers will be able to do this in most countries (like yellow fever) as their ultimate imperative is the health and safety of the workforce which would likely trump even data privacy. I think this will apply to new staff also and will be validated by law but countries will still differ from each other.
The Ibrox club are in need of substantial amounts of money, they told everyone in the last year, since which they have failed to qualify for the CL at their first attempt. Covid will have inflicted yet more damage over eighteen months.
They have, ‘apparently’, six solid candidates for sale and value them at: Barasic £10m, Tavernier £10m, Patterson £10m, Kent £20m, Morelos £20m & Kamara £15m. Now that’s a total of £85m(tosh but never mind). For talking sake, supposing they could get a quarter of that c£20m+ for the lot, why are they not selling anyone at all?
They know that Celtic have invested substantially and,
although they may feel they are still favourites for the title and subsequently CL qualification, it is by no means a given.
Are they just being reckless & stupid in their win at all costs strategy, or, are we all missing something?
All appears harmony & light amongst their squad, their fans, their management, their CEO and board – never a bad word said about each other – all firmly on-message
Should we be using their model?😃