Auston ‘n’ Arne

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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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  1. Malone Bhoy

     

     

    You totally agree re your subsequent note about Greg and the inverted point.

  2. Off for a cycle over to the Bathgate Alps to calm the nerves pre tomorrow and while the fixture announcements come out. The timings and order of these are so important.

     

     

    I have given up with all the booking flights early stuff. Personally I find there is always an interesting route to wherever we go to play.

  3. BSR @ 9:06 am,

     

     

    Excellent post, totally agree…

     

     

    For me the squad management is the big win, to hone that squad down to a manageable level so BR&Co can spend more time with our elite players

     

     

    Managers, Coaches, Trainers, Physios, Analysts, Technicians, a small army beavering away to make our first team group the best it can be

     

     

    Let’s see who we get in the first UCL games but a baptism of fire tomorrow for the new bhoys to show them what it means to be Celtic

     

     

    Hail Hail

  4. Beautiful morning in ML5

     

     

    Hope all the new bhoys witness Celtic park absolutely rocking in approx 27hrs …

     

     

    Only a fool would predict the score

     

     

    Celtic 3 Scotland’s Europa participants 0

     

     

    Kyogo 2+ goals on skybet

     

     

    Sort of wish Brighton had just kept Matt for the Arsenal game instead of blinking Crawley

  5. Celtic have 169 wins over both Rangers and they have the same over us.

     

    Tomorrow we can go to 170 whilst they stay on 169+0 which must be the perfect number for them to wallow in.

  6. Think the team picks itself tomorrow, only possible questions start with Kuhn or James & the same between Kyogo & Idah.

     

     

    I think he will start with Kyogo & James.

     

     

    I expect Valle & McCowan on the subs bench.

     

     

    If any of the newbies are ready to be pitched in if needed, McCowan would seem the obvious one.

     

     

    Brendan could quite easily put Engels on the bench, he will be as football fit as anyone in the squad, will he/won’t he?

  7. Parkhead, I feel exactly the same, long years of painful defeats leave their mark on you.

     

    I never ever take a win against the Huns for granted.

  8. Malone Bhoy on 31st August 2024 8:24 am

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT- Chris McKay,Micheal Nicholson,Brendan Rogers with goodwill and advice from other board members Peter Lawell on getting them thro,it would be strategically remiss to ignore such experience

     

     

    MB-Not sure if that the same person or people responsible for getting deals incoming but that might explain the pace of those incomings.

     

     

    AT – Lawell still in your head MB,he played no part other than giving his advice to our clubs executive directors.its time you acknowledged CMK and MN rolls.The pace of such deals,timing,last minute etc is solely as a result the market that Celtic operate in

     

     

    MB-Are we stronger than we were at the Scottish Cup final? I don’t think so.

     

     

    AT – You will not be surprised to find I feel the opposite,we are stronger,not weaker than SCF victory

     

     

    MB-In goals, as much as I loved Hart, I believe we are. But everywhere else?

     

     

    AT – Go thro tictastics post earlier,position wise we are stronger

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT- Cover and competition for favoured boobhoy Greg Taylor you mean? Same Greg Taylor 1st pick for Ange and Brendan due to his hard work and team spirit/ethic(you question GT you question both our recent managers,you like me are not equipped for that,we have Trusty in centre,could move Liam out left if needed.

     

    Re KT rumour(source??),a romantic notion,I don’t think he will be back he has had his time,

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT-Celtic at this point won’t be in the £25 market,they are however levelling up just as Brendan suggested,instead of £1or£2m projects we are harnessing young players £6m Trusty,£9m idah and Engels £13m(no source total deal amount plus adds).i would wait and see what type of player Engels is,he I am sure will be more interested in football unlike you with money.

     

    Give Engels a chance ffs he hasn’t played a game and your timing his sale.You could source where you are getting your figures.Again you don’t acknowledge Brendans skill set

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT iwata-all things must pass,like Bosun caught I possession to many time for the way BR plays.

     

    Yup our exec team know of importance of having a Scots quota

     

     

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT you are struggling MB,you are flailing about,unhappy,the stats you mention are incorrect,bit like a rekkkord article/ff article shiteswiping our signings before giving him a chance,He is a US international,had successful pass completion rate

     

     

    MB-I’m not counting Idah or Bernardo as improvements over last year as they were here.

     

     

    AT – I am counting thrm,they can both be part of Celtics strategic future,I see Barnado and Engels

     

    as succession planning for Calmac would be negligence if ignored.Bernardo will be a good player for us,idah like Barnado in midfield gives us options up front.

     

     

    MB-I’m not disappointed by the window but I’m certainly holding fire on saying it was good.

     

     

    AT- what excites you about the window?

     

    This window should get the PL pebble out of a lot of heads

     

    Does breaking our transfer twice in one window not denote a change of tack in ambition and aspiration with a view to maintaining our domestic dominance and for our European ambitions

     

    Sounds like you are preparing to fail,instead of looking at our future with aspiration,ambition and direction

     

     

     

    MB-There’s a couple of areas we’re very light in, either in quality or depth, or both.

     

     

    AT – reads like you want to cover yourself MB

     

    Where? What?

     

     

    MB- 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.

     

     

    AT- ok so above is confirmation you do not think Celtic are stronger,you are Johnny the painter from fast show and I claim my 50p

     

     

    MB-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.

     

     

    AT- I think looking at the player in isolation is exactly what our buying team do,fit,character etc,the prices are set by market.keep your player value ‘what ifs” for the playstation and fifa football,they can be simulated there,not in the real world

     

     

    Enjoy the rest of the season MB,no 2 days are the same at Celtic,it never is with ongoing history,but like you we revel in it in our own way.

     

     

    HH

  9. PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 31ST AUGUST 2024 9:46 AM

     

    Nerves already setting in for tomorrow. Can’t help it; grew up getting beat far too often by the original team fae Govan.

     

    —————

     

    I get that exact same feeling when we play them. It’s like they’ve got this wee hold over us since the financially-doped Murray years.

     

     

    However, I think the tables have now turned the other way and even when we’re not on form, we can still turn up and win these games. We’ve even been doing it at their midden, which was literally unheard of when I was growing up.

     

     

    Fancy us 3-1 or 4-1 tomorrow. Hoping we start fast, get a couple of early goals and blow them away.

     

     

    Mon the hoops! 😃🍀🇮🇪⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🏆🏆🏆🇮🇪🍀

  10. Mc Cowan,Engels on the bench,maybe tomorrow,both fully fit.Calmac has to be careful tomorrow.Severely targeted.We have far superior team,manager,playing style,home advantage.Only danger,which has not been evident for a long time,is what used to happen,players getting caught up in the occasion.Under Brendan,and Calmac,we are cool,calm,determined,just to play our game the way we practice and train for.

     

    Strangely,my only small worry,is Dessers.Hopeless or good.Which one turns up.

  11. Tom McLaughlin on

    MELVIN UDALL and I will be meeting in Kitty O’Shea’s (Edinburgh) at midday tomorrow for the bIG game.

     

     

    Any Auld Reekie / East Coast bhoys n ghirls looking for a good venue are more than welcome.

     

     

    HAIL HAIL

  12. Never knew Luke was a Celtic fan.When I posted that my mate in Tenerife met two Dundee Tim’s in the Hoops,said he was desperate to come,mad Celtic fan,surprised me.Good on him.Great signing.Loads of attributes the boy.Could be the surprise signing of them all.

     

    Then again,if Brendan,who knows a bit,is drooling over Engels,we could be in for a treat.

  13. Out with luke all the players signed have come with a certain pedigree and/ or playing history. Less punts.

     

     

    The squad is more balanced now.

     

     

    The new signings were in the door a little too slow imo.

     

     

    Celtic transfer window has ended with profit as normal.

     

     

    Despite an army of players leaving We still have about 6 pays on loan and in team that could level tomorrow without making agent.

     

     

    HH

  14. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    A big surprise of this transfer window is that Shankland is still at Hearts as he enters the final year of his contract.

     

     

    With his ridiculous POTY award, the SMSM becoming all chummy and calling him “Shanks”, then howling that he should be the starting striker for Scotland, I was almost certain he would sign for the huns.

     

     

    A pre-season contract in January no doubt beckons.

  15. Clubs pay higher fees for players they beleive are better. Generally those players cost more because they have played at a higher level have better attributes, their are always bargains but they are not easy to come by.

     

     

    I see lots of stuff about how poor Trusty was for Sheffield United. I expect he will be very good for us

  16. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    No idea about Trusty – but what I can say is that Sheffield Utd were absolute garbage last season, a team and a manager way out of their depth in an incredibly tough league.

     

    I don’t think you can judge Trusty based on their results – here’s hoping that the Celtic scouting team have spotted an undervalued defender (as was certainly the case with CCV).

  17. I was knackered when I got in last night , after I dropped BRRB and Calton Tongues off at their care home 🤪

  18. Drambowiecelt on 31st August 2024 11:30 am

     

     

    great night at the “sportspersons” dinner in the greenock club,

     

     

    i didnt know mcgowans greenock roots, plenty there who know the bhoy and they were cick a hoops for him.

     

     

    26, living the dream

  19. S.S Glad you had another great night….

     

    Yes young Luke..Living all our Dreams..Him and wee Greg yayyy..

     

    As you walk into St Johns there’s theres Gregs picture all framed and hanging for all to see.

     

    Brilliant for both of them..

  20. @Marspapa.. you picked a rare weekend for a visit…

     

    Get youself up to the Cross of Lorraine and enjoy the view…

     

    If you need anything i’m 5 mins away frome the Tontine

     

     

     

     

     

    H.H

  21. My thoughts on the transfer window are…

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It was worth the wait! Excited see the new players get bedded in over the next few months, into an already strong squad.

     

     

    Can’t wait for the CL either. Went through the full draw on the UEFA website earlier and we’re in with a great chance. Especially when you see who the other teams you’d expect to finish around us have drawn. Some of them have 4 top clubs from pots 1 & 2, then teams like PSV etc.

     

     

    Link to UEFA draw page:

     

    https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/draws/

     

     

    If we can take 9 points from 12 at home, we should qualify for the Play-off round.

  22. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 31ST AUGUST 2024 10:41 AM

     

    MELVIN UDALL and I will be meeting in Kitty O’Shea’s (Edinburgh) at midday tomorrow for the bIG game.

     

     

    Any Auld Reekie / East Coast bhoys n ghirls looking for a good venue are more than welcome.

     

    —————

     

    Look forward to it Tom. Be great to catch up again.

     

    Kitty’s also serves my favourite ale, Chieftain IPA from the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork. 😃👍🏆🇮🇪👏🍀🍻🇮🇪🍀

  23. CL Dates are out :

     

     

    September 18 – Slovan Bratislava: 8pm (H)

     

    October 1 – Borussia Dortmund: 8pm (A)

     

    October 23 -Atalanta: 5.45pm (A)

     

    November 5 – Leipzig: 8pm (H)

     

    November 27 – Brugge: 8pm (H)

     

    December 10 – Dinamo: 5.45pm (A)

     

    January 22 – Young Boys: 8pm (H)

     

    January 29 – Aston Villa: 8pm (A)

  24. garygillespieshamstring on

    Fred Colon

     

     

     

    Many thanks for doing your taxi driver yesterday.

     

    It was much appreciated.

     

     

    As was the opportunity to meet up with the regular shipwrecks and ShuggyBhoy 67.

     

     

    I hope to see you all again soon.

     

     

    I hope everyone on the blog has a happy day tomorrow (excluding any lurking Huns of course).

     

     

    HH

  25. I agree with MaloneBhoy – focus on the players we signed rather than the fees we paid. In this window, Celtic could and should have brought in 1-2 more players of the experience and quality Rodgers asked for ( he specifically wanted champs league experienced players for the tournament and to help our younger players)

     

     

    I’m intrigued rather than excited by Valle, trusty and Engels. No one on here knows how they’ll do. They may elevate the team , the may need 6mths under Celtic coaching and they might fall flat.

     

     

    We didn’t sign andexciting forward player – despite losing Johnstone and haven’t replaced jota. We will learn a lot about Khun tomorrow – he looks fitter, stronger and faster – time will tell if he’s a big game winner !

     

     

    I’m delighted we signed Idah for the dimensions he brings – if he gets injured don’t have those dimensions as back up. Rely on kyogo and weak shoulder and Maeda.

     

     

    We’ve added much needed height in the team trusty,idah and Engels while providing physical cover on the left back (trusty and valle).

     

     

    As I said, I’m intrigued excited about us going forward. Just wish we’d found that experienced go to player. (Looks like we tried but deals fell though – hence late deal for McCowan who is a cracking wee player).

     

     

    In terms of spend – did we come out of the window spending less than we brought in?