On loan at Birmingham City during season 2022-23 transformed Auston Trusty (26) from an Arsenal project into a respected defender in the English Championship. Just two years earlier, Cameron Carter-Vickers earned the same reputation in that division with Bournemouth as a loanee from Tottenham.
Auston spent last season with one of the busiest jobs in football, central defender at Sheffield United, who lost 28 of their 38 Premier League games, a campaign which saw them finish bottom after only three wins. The central defender role at Celtic could hardly be more different.
Celtic have broken their transfer record only once since Chris Sutton arrived in the summer of 2000 – with then-20-year-old Odsonne Edouard’s £9m signing in 2018. We are back paying big bucks for another 20-year-old today, with the anticipated arrival of Arne Engels (the Belgian turns 21 next weekend).
At this age, central midfielders can be adapted to fit whatever role their manager thinks best. Consider Callum McGregor’s migration from a No. 7, to an 8, to a 6. We are going to need plenty of energy in the middle of the park this season, one of the characteristics I expect we’ll see in Arne.
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Good morning all from Govanhill.
Morning Big Rail Road B
What’s on the menu today …
That bus pass has been well used …
Whit a windae … Luke McCowan should inspire every player in their mid 20s to never stop believing if you keep at it … just need our Greg Taylor to get that contract signed and keep proving every doubter wrong
Good morning from sunny southwest Ireland.
Time to get up, fire up the laptop and prepare to sit like a teenager re-booting that fecking Ticketmaster site in a vain attempt to purchase overpriced tickets to Oasis.
The things we do for our adult children !
Looks like a really intetesting transfer window.
Bring on the tribute club,,, a good scelping is long overdue.
Good morning from the Fort William train to Queens St.
Legburncsc
Good morning from The Tontime hotel Greenock.
Heading down to breakfast shortly .
Good morning from a beautiful sunny North Staffs – well thank goodness that’s over.
Well done to everyone involved- looking at the amount of transfers and loans transacted across the UK it seems last minute is the norm.
A treat for you all today – Port Vale v Doncaster on Sky (red button) ko 12.30.
If you watch it you will see what I have to put up with every week.
Up the Vale
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/celtic/13206449/arne-engels-celtics-record-signing-arrives-at-celtic-park
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/celtic/13206455/luke-mccowan-arrives-at-celtic-after-dundee-exit
Love it!
A huge thank you to the Board.
Well done to the recruitment team. Remind me never to play you guys in a game of poker.
Congratulations Brendan on keeping the recruitment programme on track.
Lastly, thank you to the new signings who are prepared to come to the SPL.
All in all, what a fabulous transfer window. Now work your magic, Brendan.
FFS………………thug
https://x.com/PursuitOfTruthB/status/1828880260269481984?t=YwJLwxCnS2vR4Cl7hxN_3g&s=19
https://youtu.be/ken92pysUZI
There were still some transfer unknowns last night, when I headed for bed.
On seeing Tictastic’s post at 0302, that is one significant window.
I’d imagine the starting XI tomorrow will be largely as was, with the new guys coming online over the coming weeks.
Very happy for the season.
Respectfully nervous ahead of the sevco game. They will play any and all available players, they have nothing to lose
https://youtu.be/1kSbYsrvaIU
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/august/30/luke-mccowan-signs-for-the-champions-of-scotland/?g4id=6
Alway nervous when we play them
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/august/30/welcome-to-celtic-arne-engels/?g4id=4
This Bhoy made his debut on this day?
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/08be5ddf80bced4f73c74c6cac16ef82
Bertie Peacock?
Gene
Always nervous. Agree 100%.
They are a wounded animal and have a grievance.
They will know everyone of them can go from zero to hero in their fans eyes if they even get a point never mind win.
We should be much stronger and have a settled form, style and shape to our team. They will know that also and will seek to disrupt with a tolerant set of officials.
Brendan got the right notes with his presser yesterday. Giving them what respect he needed to. Hopefully the team are focused on the one thing that matters tomorrow. Not transfers Not Champs League.
My view on the window is from a strategic squad management aspect it’s been great. Whoever was in charge of getting squad players out the door did a fantastic job.
Not sure if that the same person or people responsible for getting deals incoming but that might explain the pace of those incomings.
Are we stronger than we were at the Scottish Cup final? I don’t think so.
In goals, as much as I loved Hart, I believe we are. But everywhere else?
Cover/competition on a temporary basis at left back which is good, the rumour being Valle is a stop-gap with the potential for a KT return.
We lost our best player by a distance and got good money, but if we were bringing someone in of MOR’s ability, effectiveness or standing, £25m would be the starting point. Engels is a talented and young but raw player with potential, but currently nowhere near O’Rileys level. He is not the same type of player at all, more all action, less goal creation. His utility seems to have attracted BR. The contract if true seems odd, lowest paid player at his old club (reported £3k/week) to highest at Celtic (£45-50k/week), and on a 4 year deal I’d expect they’ll plan to sell in 2.
Iwata being a capable squad player is a loss but McCowan is a good trade, perhaps not dynamic enough to be more than a squad player but shores up the numbers and good for some goal creation much like Turnbull. Obvious side benefit is he helps with the homegrown quota.
Trusty at CB is an athletic and aggressive defender but can be overly aggressive, throwing himself into too many duels and prone to giving away free kicks, not known for being a good passer of the ball which is a strange choice for a £6m CB. Maybe playing for a more dominant team that will change.
I’m not counting Idah or Bernardo as improvements over last year as they were here.
I’m not disappointed by the window but I’m certainly holding fire on saying it was good.
There’s a couple of areas we’re very light in, either in quality or depth, or both.
It’s likely been a net profit when you add it all up. I’m fine with that, would be ecstatic if the squad is/was stronger.
I wonder, would people be as giddy if the exact same movements happened but we paid £5m for Idah and £3.5m for Engels? I think some have a tendency to look at fees and get excited without actually looking at the player in isolation.
Interesting rangers spent the £2m extra the get for hearts losing in Europa plus their income from sale of wright and Cantwell on one guy and the other was a loan this week.
Their main signing spent all of last season in a relegated team as did Trusty for us. Our main guy Engels spent the last 2 months of the season in an Augsburg team which won just 1 game in 8 in the bundesliga, dropping from CL contenders to mid table. It may take the guys some time to adjust to things at Celtic where winning every week is demanded.
Perhaps McCowan will fit in quicker domestically. Knowing the ropes here better and being part of an attack minded Dundee side might help initially.
Morning
anyone know where the CL fixtures will be reported first?
The Thems…
Never heard of the winger they signed. Looks decent in his highlight reel but who doesn’t. Feels like they’ve lost some creativity in the middle but gained it this summer in the wings. If they go with Sterling and Diamande in the centre they would have a very functional and strong/athletic middle although not the most creative.
Kasanwirjo on loan is a step up in technical ability and can play anywhere at the back.
Overall they’ve got some players out the door and added some in that might improve them a bit, albeit mostly loans so another rebuild next summer.
MB
I suspect it is a recruitment team ….. think your pint maybe verging on half empty.
Anyway , feel good factor re the window and we push on . Smaller squad size will allow more focus on bringing on players , so all good.
Only GT not re-signed , so suspect his days are numbered.
HH
Right- the window is shut.
We’ve transferred out some old bling.
We’ve transferred in some new bling.
Now we’ve got a game to play:-
I’m going with:-
Schmeichel
Johnston CCV Scales Taylor
Hatate McGregor Bernardo
Kuhn Kyogo Maeda
Subs (to be used around the hour mark); Forrest, Idah & Palma
So- for all the fuss and angst- we’ll be using what we had, minus Matt.
The only new bling who might play is Valle as a late sub
EKBHOY
I would be hopeful he does sign, surely agents doing agents things. He’s maxed out his level at us and seems to genuinely love being at the club, so I’d say it’s a win win if he stays. Otherwise what? Cardiff?
I asked this question the other day from Alan Morrison and Juco James… Pretty much everyone says we want an upgrade at left back but most, to varying degrees, say that Taylor does a good job. My question was, we’re all pretty sure we should be able to find a traditional fullback that we can afford who is better and offers more going forward than Taylor, but could we find/afford a fullback who invert as naturally and as well as he does?
Might be horses for courses at LB.
Drambowiecelt on 30th August 2024 11:57 pm
@Big j in the Morn ..From my mate..
Wee Freddie riding for P.F Nicholls Sat….Possible treble…
To others ..this is not a tip….Bet carefully…
…………..
I can only see TWO Paul Nichols runners with Freddie as Jockey. Their odds are 4/9 and 7/4….Not too appealing however, Nichols also has another runner with LORCAN WILLIAMS as Jockey at the same meeting. Its Price is a healthy 9/2.
So a small wager on the possible TREBLE is on.
Fingers crossed.
HH Mate.
Commentary that Engels is nowhere near MOR level.
How do we know? He was playing regularly in Bundesliga, obviously at a much higher level of football generally than MOR in SPL.
Let’s wait and see.
Also being suggested that Trusty might not be upgrade. As much of a trier as is LS, I can’t see Trusty being a step down.
McCowan looks to be more attacking than Iwata so we will have to wait and see whether that counterbalances Tomoki’s defensive awareness.
The late transfer activity was obviously welcome. It should have been done earlier, of course.
But, let’s look forward- to tomorrow and beyond.
HH!!
Malone Bhoy
Good post re rangers and our windows.
I have a couple of thoughts and builds on it.
Firstly our recruitment out and in is in the hands of 3 people now. FD CEO and Manager. So credit where due sits there. Especially re getting cash for exits. Helped by existing sensible wage levels which are easy to move on.
Jury can’t be anything other than out re inbounds.
Personally I think at some point credit has to be given to those involved for Idah and Bernardo whether you begrudge it or not. Both are now with us and Bernardo better tested than he was a year ago has shown he can perform in the big games. Idah is a definite upgrade on Oh. Idah was not with us last year fyi. Not for Europe or first half of last season.
I agree some could say we have paid a premium for Trusty and Engels (although the true price and salaries are not public no matter how informed you believe you are) and that in part would be due to the lack enthusiasm amongst agents and handlers to send people to a football backwater league like we are. We can see from the other side of the city how player value can be eroded if a team loses. It is a high risk with no certainty for personal development in a market where there is limited global coverage or regard. It will never be easy.
The good thing is our manager was very hands on with the decision making and clearly has skin in the game and he knows more than you or I and is also much more attuned to the financial realities in this area than before.
He got it right with Idah (100% his choice) I really do think he and the players deserve the chance to show they have got it right with this window. Like you I think McCowan will be influential and a strong squad player. For me he will contribute a lot early on as the others assimilate.
I note you did not mention the left back. For me that will be very interesting. I really regard Greg highly but appreciate the LB from Spain is def a Brendan inspired move and I am expecting a real contribution rotating with Greg and allowing the huge numbers we get from him to get even better per game.
Exciting times ahead. Challenges too as rangers have got rid of their massive burdens at a cost to their notional balance sheet which does set them up for future despite their loan intensive strategy.
The window is over, the supporters did win.
Brendan Rodgers prized open the purse strings and filled the Parkhead revolving door. I’m glad he persevered throughout summer, he got the quality he wanted and strengthened where most supporters, could see we needed.
Outs – Tilio, McCarthy, Bernabei, Turnbull Abada, Haksabanovic, Oh, Lawal, Vata, Kelly, Lagerbielke, Kobayashi, M Johnston, Siegrist Iwata – a few loaned youngsters
All through Parkhead’s proverbial ‘gates’, with some brain farting in the boardroom it has taken BR a calendar year, and three windows to mend, with a major ‘review’ planned for Celtic’s recruitment process. A process that will serve Celtic as it opens the new CL format and maybe into the next decade, setting a tone for beyond Brendan. A minor miracle saw the same side as it was, under Ange, barring two January 24 signings, lift the double. Hampered by the same shackles Brendan has decimated the squad and supporters are seeing a spend equivalent to a reasonable proportion of profit, crucially on ready to play first teamers.
If there was better community PR between the board and the Celtic supporters, broadband wouldn’t be so stretched, self generated football ‘stress’ could have been avoided. Brendan Rodgers ain’t no Tony Mowbray, Rony Deila or Neil Lennon no puppet on a string, he knows Celtic are Scottish football, now along with legitimate earnings and unique wealth, that should be continually returned from a bank, to the club – Celtic supporters are the club.
Rivals that tow an open goal spectre around from rebuild to rebuild from 2012 won’t cancel our direct debits which coincided on Friday, with the slamming shut. Timing is everything and Celtic need more invincibles, no invisibles, for Parkhead Zadoc nights and where Engels and Co,now dare, as the Brendan voyage continues.
Ins – Schmeichel ,Sinasalo, Valle, Bernardo Idah, Valle, Trusty, Engels, McCowan.
Adidas Friday for sure 30/08/2024
BelmontBrian on 30th August 2024 7:05 pm
The only down sign of today’s Shipwreck meet up was we were missing our Captain.
BIG JIMMY you’re feeling better, you were missed.
HH.
…………..
Cheers Brian Bhoy.
I am sorry that I missed the Beer Frenzy yesterday but I had a wee relapse this week with the Bowel and BACK Trouble.
The DOCS were gonna remove part of my Bowel around 4 years ago, but latterly decided against any Surgery as my Heart MAY NOT have stood up to Surgery ? This was only 2 or 3 months after my 2nd heart Attack.
Hopefully, we can meet up soon for a few Beers ?
All the best to you and the family Brian Bhoy.
All the best to CELTIC FC Tomorrow against ” THE ANIMALS” !
HH Brian Bhoy.
Birmingham paying £15m in League 1 is another staging post in the implosion of football’s economy, at least in England.
By paying such a fee in such a league, Birmingham push other clubs to compete at that level.
I have no doubt that League 1 clubs will pay the price with points deductions, administration and/or liquidation. The owners, who are gambling with the future of their clubs and the English game more generally, will be long gone after that.
On the comments on pregame nerves:
I keep thinking about the first game at Ibrox last season, where we fielded a weakened side away from home with no fans and won it.
No one saw that coming – we have a game to prosecute tomorrow – and I don’t expect any complacency from our bhoys. Can’t wait!!
Gene on 31st August 2024 8:18 am
Bertie Peacock?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Fullname: John Robert Peacock MBE
aka: Bertie Peacock, Robert Peacock
Nickname: The Little Ant
Born: 29 September 1928
Died: 22 July 2004
Birthplace: Coleraine, N Ireland
Signed: 28 May 1949 (from Glentoran)
Left: 18 May 1961 (to Coleraine as player manager)
Position: Defender, Left-half
Debut: Celtic 1-3 Aberdeen, League Cup, 31 Aug 1949
Internationals: N Ireland
International Caps: 32 (and captained them also).
International Goals: 0
Brilliant window for moving on those surplus to requirements, they certainly got that right.
I’m sure the new guys are more in line withe managers way of thinking, let’s hope they hit the ground running.
A warm Celtic welcome to ALL of our New Signings.
Those new Bhoys won’t know what Hit Them until they walk out to 60,000 Celtic supporters singing their heids aff against the Huns tomorrow.
I do NOT expect ANY of the New Bhoys to feature Tomorrow unless one or two are on the Bench and get on for the final few minutes or so, depending on the Score Line of course ?
HH.
General observation folks …what about your computer front page MSN sports coverage ..outrageously biased towards Sevco or what ?…disgracefull ..is it possible via Microsoft settings to stop this being default settings ?…it honestly is like the Rangers news of old 🤢
Good morning to AT and BRRB.
We’re a much stronger squad than the one that started last season.
Kuhn and Idah missed the first half of last season – they’ll see all of this season.
Bernardo is much more settled and will improve again this season. We’ve cover at LB and CB.
Importantly we’ve also trimmed the squad to near the 25 man panel that BR said he wanted last year.