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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Fine language from the man who scarred the beautiful game
14th November 2002
Herald and Times archive
ON the eve of tonight’s football thriller at Ewood Park, Graeme Souness yesterday was once more using fine language to describe his team, their devotion to good football, and what you might think, listening to him, is a form of ballet which Blackburn Rovers play under Souness.
The moment did, therefore, seem an ideal time to recall what are often canonised as The Great Souness Maimings, which have scarred the beautiful game down the years. I hope Souness or any other Rovers supporter won’t mind me mentioning some of the Souness-inspired bleaker football nights which have left people slightly crippled.
In no particular order of injury, incapacity, or just plain maiming, I thought it educative to recall the following footballers:
Lica Movila (Dinamo Bucharest). The most overlooked of all the Souness hatchet-jobs. In the semi-final of the 1983 European Cup, and behind the referee’s back, Souness actually broke Movila’s jaw in two places before the Romanian was carted from the field in agony.
”It was the best punch I delivered in my life,” wrote Souness, celebrating his love of the beautiful game, in his autobiography years later. Movila’s Dinamo team, he said, ”were easily the nastiest team I’d played against.” Well, Souness would know about that.
Iosis Rotariu (Steaua Bucharest). It is hard to know if Souness actually had something against Romanians, but most observers at Ibrox on the night of March 16, 1988, agreed that Rotariu was fortunate still to have both his testicles attached to his body after the assault Souness made dangerously close to the Romanian’s scrotum area.
It was, arguably, Souness’ most X-rated tackle, his boot going in high above the knee, with studs acting as fangs as they sank into Rotariu’s upper thigh. Even Ibrox froze at such a moment of butchery. It remains the moment most incompatible with Souness’ endless preaching about beautiful, sophisticated football.
Siggi Jonsson (Iceland). About enough said. After this maiming the 21-year-old Jonsson, with a blossoming career ahead of him, was never the same again. While in Reykjavik last month more senior members of the Scottish press corps looked out across the park and vividly recalled the moment when Jonsson, having just nut-megged Souness in 1984, saw the moustachioed assassin turn in wrath and, in the parlance, ”fix” the young midfielder.
Jonsson never understood the phrase ”the beautiful game” ever again. But he knew what a hammer-thrower was.
He also did Martin O’Neill with a shocking tackle.
Stebhoy – IMO you are missing a lot. Let’s say we sign the 3 lhads heavily tipped to join today. That would make 8 players signed this window. One of those players looks like he’s destined for a season on the bench as back-up goalie while the others will be pushing to play. Brendan stated that he’s confident we will be in a stronger position come tonight. What on earth is it you’re looking for?
When there is big change with people coming and going it is impossible to say either way whether we are stronger or weaker.
I think at this point of time unless their is a late curve ball , we have lost one very valuable player in Matt & appear to have brought in 3 players with the potential to make us better,
There have been other bread & butter moves but I don’t think they make a significant difference either way, likewise I left Idah & Bernardo out of equation as we already had them last year.
While naturally the spotlight is on Engels, Valle & Trustey could be big hits if they prove to be major upgrades on Taylor & Scales,
These are the 2 positions that seemed to provoke most worry here, most people saying good enough for SPFL but bomb scares in Europe.
I’m not sure about that myself but let the newbies have a couple of games and we will all be a bit wiser.
Engles looks a pretty special Player, how will he adapt to the SPFL & away trips to Ross County remains to be seen.
No prophesies from me but I always feel excited when lads like Engels are signed up, good window/ bad window time will tell, but I feel optimistic and right now I am absolutely buzzing.
MNCELT. I’m talking specifically about champions league competition. Other than left defensive area I don’t see where we have improved on last season team.
Idah and Bernardo were already there. Engels is a MOR replacement who looks promising.
Don’t get me wrong – I like the flush out and refresh of the team. I just don’t see the player additions that make us better for Europe! , in the midfield and forward areas.
Steboy
I think the optimism in Europe was watching us in pre-season pumping Man City and Chelsea (those chelski fans sure get about)
We are a different team this year under Brendan, he really has put his stamp onto the team
The optimism is high
Until it aint obvs
However, lets see how we come thru Sunday first
Am hoping we give them a right doing and put down a marker
But would be happy with a 1-0 deflected sclaff goal
Huns trying to beg about for money to get Shankland
Agree with that clunks. Even with the same player aldrin last season – our pre season and start of season showed significant improvement. Rodgers working his magic.
Hoping for a wee surprise in the next few hours to reward his hard work and add value to the team
Ivan Toney is going to Al Ahil for 33m. What a strange career
Evening all.
Just back from the ‘Shipwreck’s’ debacle.
What a brilliant day (as usual)
2 new signings on the last day, GGH and SHUGGYBHOY67.
Funded by BRRB.
If you can, get yourself along to the next meet up.
Nite y’all
Stay classy.
Tell you’re friends, they’ll like it.
It’s good to be a Tim.
Brian’
HH
Good evening all from Parkhead. Left the two drunks aka Thelurkintim and Calton Tongues to meet the small doll. Unfortunately got ambushed at the Black Bull.
Steboy
I think the biggest difference we will see this year is Hatate
His absence last year was massive
His influence this year, again, will be massive and should offset Matt’s absence
It’s almost like a new signing……
Also, dying to know why Hatate and Kyogo wear gumshields for both matches AND training (capitals copyright Big Jimmy!)
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
Sign = Side.
DOH!!
SCULLYBHOY on 30TH AUGUST 2024 6:20 PM
Interesting piece – thanks for posting.
Truly horrible individual on the park.
Just as George McCluskey
evening all. Got to do this to change the page….no idea why.
CELTIC40ME on 30TH AUGUST 2024 6:58 PM
Ivan Toney is going to Al Ahil for 33m. What a strange career
———-
Couldn’t agree more , especially at a time when out and out goal scorers , as I suppose they always are, seem to be at a premium.
I can’t help think the whole gambling issue is in the mix somewhere.
Maybe he’s viewed as damaged goods down south.
Maybe there’s a worry that he isn’t going to repeat.
Maybe he owes people money and that’s all he cares about.
Who knows but definitely , as you , strange.
Top news on Sky Sports is huns have signed some dutch guy on loan. Got money from outgoings.
Wright for 300K ; what a laugh!
No mention of course that the Hoops have spent many millions on signings. Hun Sports.
Bet Tonev never saw that coming
Odds on it was no surprise tho….
STEBHOY
Idah wasn’t at Celtic for last season’s Eurooean games.
clunks,
Also, dying to know why Hatate and Kyogo wear gumshields for both matches AND training (capitals copyright Big Jimmy!)
————
Not sure about training but for matches I don’t blame them given that our opponents
are allowed to kick the living s**t out of us with impunity.
Just ask Paul Lambert
I still maintain that Albertz deliberately stuck his knee into Paul’s gnashers.
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER
To protect their teeth.
I think being wee guys in a Celtic shirt they get plenty elbows to the face mouth neck, so I would think it is that.
the long wait is over
Aye, you aint far wrong
Scott Brown who was at hibs youths also got booked for it……..
BREAKING! Todd Cantwell completes Rangers transfer as Michael Beale begins Ibrox rebuild – oh wait
Sky news
South Korean Celt settles in for Hibs loan spell – Sunshine Kwon Leith
Sevco sports news
Sevco WORKING on deal
That is a red neck on SKY on the breaking news bar no less, a loan signing from Feyenoord, did this guy play against us, his name is new to me? What a RIDDY
GerryBhoy on 30th August 2024 7:16 pm
Top news on Sky Sports is huns have signed some dutch guy on loan. Got money from outgoings.
Wright for 300K ; what a laugh!
————
Lol GB.
They’re stuck with the O** F*** business model
Passion, ups and down, nip and tuck, ying and yang, neck and neck, world’s greatest derby, two great institutions, blah blah blah.
The Problem? Their traditionally best customer demographic in Scotland – the knuckle dragging blue pound (plus a fair sprinkling of Union Flag shaggers darn sarf) – are disaffected in increasing numbers.
The … er .. Solution?
Top billing to blue turd polishing.
Quote of the day from follow follow on a new signing
“Least this gives us a better chance of catching Aberdeen now.”
Must be a tim in disguise????
Where did the huns get £4mil to sign the Albanian playing in Italy.🤷♂️
Enjoyed the afternoon with the shipwrecks.
Great company.
Thanks bhoys.
I’m looking forward to the next one.
fanadpatriot
They didnt
If it comes to pass the only page reporting it s 4 million will be daily ranger and follow follow
The rest will be “undisclosed fee”
GGH
You won’t be invited back.
Bloody hooligan. 😂
The Albanian is a good player and cerny is upgrade on their previous. They are not to be underestimated.
Gonna be a long night tonight
Steboy
Maybe you are supporting the wrong team.
After 62 years following Celtic attending average of 35 games a season home and away, Domestic and in Europe. These are the best days ever.
For a club from a country of 5 million we are doing incredibly well. Tell me a single club outside of top 5 leagues who you thing does better ?
If you can’t see us as better than a year ago then goodness knows what you are watching this past month.
Steboy
So they are scouting and signing better than us then ?
Cerny hardly played for Wolfsburg who were mid table
Engels was main man in midfield for Augsburg. They are doing well ? Really.
Of course they have a punchers chance but