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
- »
Get ready, another 4 incoming.
We need to get rid of the plastic pitches in the Premier League (or whatever it is called these days).
J TITOR on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 3:49 PM
Greetings Timlord
Apologies for my lack of communications these past several plasmaball traverses. Sadly hunverse forces managed to damage my machine during the Great Battle of Postecoglou Hill in 2581 and sent me spiraling into the void of hyperspace for several centuries.
In better news though, I finally managed to discharge the emergency singularity airbags within my machine, resulting in an unplanned entry of the 2043 sector, where some very helpful quantum mechanics from Qwik Fix managed to repair the chronology protection conjecture filters with some quantum foam.
As you will not be aware, until now, I decided to pay a visit to New Paradise while waiting for my machines repairs and was stunned to witness the colossal stained glass facade of New Paradise. A remarkable installation portraying Timverse greats throughout the timeline until 2043. Breathless in my astonishment of forehead, I could only mutter, Now that’s a Window!
In even better news though, you will be glad to learn, on my return to the Battle of Postecoglou Hill and with a fully repaired machine, I discharged my Reality Box weapon on the hunverse hordes, who were, as you will not be aware, left void of memory stumbling around looking for their history.
In sadder news though, I hope you have been harvesting plenty of potatoes as those quantum mechanics at Qwik Fix charge a cyber arm & leg for repairs.
To infinity & backwards!
==================================
Good to see the cqn timlord orbit for a spec in time :-)))
Great to see
HH
Nick 8.47
All fair comments .
I get frustrated at the over positive spin put on our transfer dealings.
Likewise the lack of honest expression about our chequered transfer policy.
But what makes me the most frustrated is our shit poor scouting .
The new signings have my full support ,they haven’t earned my trust yet,but the door is open.
TT
LUCKY CODY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 8:53 PM
in other news,
that was a world class rage with no point made whatsoever.
TURKEYBHOY-you are to kind to the tosser.
Hope you’re bhoy is on the mend soon 👍
TOMM
How about defending Mrs.Gates………..could be worth a few$$$$😉
TITOR if your still at the garage,
in the future, did Peter Lawwell get that Supreme Order Of Christ award from Pope Francis ?
TOM M
I don’t think you defend someone at a divorce case………..how about represent.
frustrates the life out of me – corner Scotland , our 3 tallest guys stand right beside the keeper. keeper doesn’t nee to jump to collect with stretched arms!
Get them edge of 18 and attack! takes keeper out of equation
Lucky Cody,
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ,PETER LAWELL ,aaaarrrrgggghh,Calm down there’s no monsters under your bed.,ZZZZZZZZZ
Fix fitba’ : empty Hampden.
Fairhill Buoy,
Only Flu like.Hopefully that’s it.
Many thanks.
shit poor scouting results in £104,000,000 transfer fees in since 2018
who is buying these peoples
Saint Stivs,
McKay regurgitated it in a glib manner. Unfortunately he is not a serious guy and soundbites are his forte.
CEO’s pick their words carefully whether it’s the Dax 40, FTSE 100 or corner shop glasgow outfits masquerading as a PLC with non entities on the board with some of them inebriated for the 2nd half.
The Board needs cleaned out.
I think Shortie despise Kieran…………
JHB shove yer anti Scottish racism where the sun don’t shine.
Bankie-there is a few on here don’t like him either 🤷🏻♂️
Our recruiting has been pitiful.
Scotland have as much chance of reaching a World Cup tournament as Stenhousemuir. I seriously doubt we will beat Moldova or the Faroes, based on suffering through this. We are already down to 4th in the Group. Now we have Dykes lumbering around up front. The performance is utterly embarrassing.
The only good thing about this match is seeing big Morten Weighorst looking hale and hearty.
Football is pretty simple. Denmark’s technical ability buys them time. Moving into space creates ….. yeah, space!
Scotland are too physically weak for route 1
And too technically poor to build on the deck
The Scotland players have either been pumped full of AZ and are being pulled horribly out of position by giant danish magnetic helicopters.
Or…. SFA-induced blood n snotters from aged 11 doesn’t produce talent
🤷🏼♂️
HH jg
Scotland have actually tried to play football for the last 10 minutes or so. Hasn’t got them very far but at least they are trying to do the right thing.
LUCKY CODY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2021 9:09 PM
Saint Stivs,
McKay regurgitated it in a glib manner. Unfortunately he is not a serious guy and soundbites are his forte.
CEO’s pick their words carefully whether it’s the Dax 40, FTSE 100 or corner shop glasgow outfits masquerading as a PLC with non entities on the board with some of them inebriated for the 2nd half.
The Board needs cleaned out.
————-
on you go, spare £80 mill for the hostile takeover ?
you got your prospectus ?
The Republic still leading a Portuguese team packed with World class players from Man U, Man City, Liverpool, and Porto. Ronaldo missed a penalty.
Hrvatska Jim
All best wishes Jim.
COYBIG
First save for Schmeichel after 80 minutes.
Pound for pound, are Portugal the most underachieving side in world football right now?
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0901/1244134-world-cup-2022-portugal-v-ireland-updates/
GEEBEE1978
Between them and Engurland
Duffy marshaling a real backs to the wall defensive performance in Portugal. Why didn’t we try to sign this guy? Oh! Wait!
Turnbull on for last 5 minutes for Scoddland.
I notice the greatest footballer in a generation runs about a lot making neat little passes whilst pointing here there and everywhere, a la Peter Grant…but the greatest in a generation?? Hmmm!
90 SECS LEFT
PI33
Ferguson on for Scotland. 3 minutes injury time.
MY FAULT THAT
89 minutes in Portugal. It will be unbelievable if the Republic win this.
roaster