August is a perilous time for predictions. Teams are still working on fitness, new arrivals are often learning the language, and until the window closes, players can still come and go, affecting the performance of anyone competing for the title.
That’s easy for us to say, though. Across the city, all they can see is the unstoppable Celtic machine grinding all before it on the way to four-in-a-row. I doubt our optimism, or Newco’s pessimism are a full reflection on the reality of where we are.
Celtic are by far the stronger side right now, but we have to prepare for a guaranteed eight Champions League games. Only three times in our history have we played as many games in a European competition proper. Do you think we have the bandwidth to cope with that load?
We have two strikers, one left back and the manager seems to trust only two central defenders. A lot could change between now and the turn of the year.
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any new players
What larks
You’re surely not starting to wet the bed??
Brighton & Hove Albion have made a formal bid for 23-year-old Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley and, with nothing yet agreed, talks are set to continue over the coming days. (Sky Sports), external
Brighton are prepared to shatter the £25m Scottish transfer record Arsenal paid Celtic for Kieran Tierney to land midfielder Matt O’Riley and are confident of securing a deal to land the 23-year-old from the Scottish champions. (Daily Mail), external
Brighton have agreed personal terms in principle with Matt O’Riley but are now negotiating a fee with Celtic, who want a club-record fee of £25m plus an additional £5m in add-ons for the midfielder. (HITC), external
Brighton have targeted Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and fellow midfielder Ferdi Kadioglu, currently with Fenerbahce, now that they have completed the signing of forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds United for a £40m fee. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external
If Brighton secure the signing of Matt O’Riley from Celtic, Napoli are ready to proceed with the capture of 23-year-old Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour from the Premier League club. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external
Leicester City are among the clubs monitoring Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate and the 26-year-old Japan international is keen on moving to the Premier League this summer, while there is also interest from Spain and Italy. (Chris Wheatley on X), external
Fulham have conceded defeat in their attempt to sign 27-year-old Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay from Manchester United and have instead agreed a deal for Sander Berge from Burnley for £20m plus £5m in bonuses, with the Norwegian due for a medical on Tuesday. (The Athletic), external
Manchester United will only consider a summer exit for Scott McTominay if the Scotland midfielder, who has attracted plenty of interest but for whom there have been no formal bids, makes it clear to the club he wants to leave Old Trafford. (Sky Sports), external
Scott McTominay has decided he does not want to head to Turkey this summer, which rules both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce out of the running to sign the Manchester United and Scotland midfielder. (TeamTalk), external
Tuesday’s English & European transfer rumours
Published
4 hours ago
Monday’s Scottish Gossip
Published
1 day ago
Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet is wanted by Aberdeen, who want to see if a potential loan deal can be agreed with the 27-year-old having fallen down the pecking order with Millwall. (Daily Record), external
Millwall and Standard Liege are among a number of clubs who have registered their interest in signing Hibernian centre-half Rocky Bushiri, the 24-year-old who could be available for a cut-price fee in the region of £250,000. (Football Insider), external
Sturm Graz sports director Andreas Schicker has insisted they want to keep Scotland Under-21 right-back Max Johnston despite the 20-year-old being linked with either a loan or permanent move to Oxford United, Stoke City and Swansea City. (Daily Record), external
Dundee need to add to their squad as they only had four outfield substitutes on Saturday, but manager Tony Docherty stresses he is insisting on quality rather than quantity. (The Courier), external
Former Rangers manager Michael Beale says he took a wage cut to return to Ibrox as manager from Queens Park Rangers but would not have taken the job had he known that so many key figures would leave the club. (Mindset for Sport podcast), external
Former manager Michael Beale says Fashion Sakala was the only forward he wanted to keep during last summer’s high turnover of players with Rangers but that the Zambia international had a much better offer from Al Fayha. (Mindset for Sport podcast), external
Former manager Michael Beale has revealed that, although Nicolas Raskin was a free agent, Rangers paid £800,000 for his services, while fellow midfielder Todd Cantwell was completely free. (Mindset for Sport podcast), external
The Scottish FA has informed St Johnstone that referee Matthew MacDermid did not blow for a foul before Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored the opening goal during Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup match at Hampden Park. (The Herald), external
Rangers are on course to be back at Ibrox by the end of next month after taking delivery of the third and final shipment of steel in the timescale outlined by chairman John Bennett for renovation of the Copland Stand. (Daily Record)
Another day nearer EXCUSEVILLE 🤔
is the article advocating for more purchases to cope with the CL?
Absolutely correct Paul so we need to IMPROVE on what we have. There is little point in signing a player like Connolly as Maeda is a better option as a third choice striker albeit we lose his work wide.
The centre of defence is a worry to me for the reasons you have said. He only seems to trust Scales and CCV. The former is an honest player similar to McManus. If we want to improve we need better and to retain Scales as he will get plenty football.
We need a left back as said and it would be good if he was a first choice one with GT being retained in a similar vein to Scales.
What baffles me, and maybe somebody can answer this is why we wait until O’Reilly leaves before signing a midfielder?
We know Matt will leave within the next 12 months, and we have the money to sign and pay another midfielder so why do we not do it?
I appreciate some players need to go before others are signed when you are working to certain rules, but with the money we have these wont be affected. Plus, we’ve not broken the bank thus far albeit we have spent a decent sum of money.
It’s likely we will be playing a match on the 1st September minus our Poty, so it would be hugely positive to keep our momentum going and sign somebody this week. We all want Matt to stay but if he goes he’d be better going in the next few days so we can activate our plans – assuming we have any.
In: Kasper Schmeichel, goalkeeper (Anderlecht); Viljami Sinisalo, goalkeeper (Aston Villa, undisclosed); Paulo Bernardo, midfielder (Benfica, loan to permanent, undisclosed); Adam Idah, forward (Norwich City, loan to permanent, undisclosed).
Out: Hyeon-gyu Oh, forward (Genk, undisclosed); Sead Haksabanovic, forward (Malmo, undisclosed); Joe Hart, goalkeeper (retired); Benjamin Siegrist, goalkeeper (Rapid Bucharest); Rocco Vata, forward (Watford, undisclosed); Bosun Lawal, defender (Stoke City, undisclosed); Ben Quinn, forward (Mansfield Town); Magnus Mackenzie, defender (Queen’s Park); Benny-Jackson Luyeye, midfielder.
Loan out: Kwon Hyeok-kyu, midfielder (Hibernian); Marco Tilio, forward (Melbourne City, loan extension); Dane Murray, defender (Queen’s Park).
Afnoon all.
D. :)
10 days till the window shuts and BR still doesn’t have an improved squad from the end of last season. MOR almost certain to leave before the window shuts, further weakening the first XI. Everything looks really rosy doesn’t it?….
Forget about the quality, feel the bandwidth?
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2024/08/20/celebrations-and-aspirations/#more-35205
yes everything looks normal.
Absolutely no interest in what other clubs are doing. Stick 100 points on the board (which we should be capable of doing) and the league will be ours. Comfortably.
If we want to improve in Europe (do we?) we need to strengthen. The next two weeks will tell us a lot.
The weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth regarding the transfer window started in late May,early June….and won’t stop even after the window shuts…Why do people get themselves worked up over it …I don’t know…Its almost the same every year.
My own feelings back in June were that we would replace Hart,sign Idah and Bernado permanently and sell O’Riley..I still think that will happen but would be very happy if O’Riley stays…If he goes for the reported £25 million we will probably bring in a replacement for £5 maybe even £10 million …
But who knows,10 days left…maybe we will bring in 3 or 4 new players and O’Riley will stay….No point worrying about it
This article reads like it’s a revelation to some that we’re short of numbers !
We’ve been reliant on one left back for almost three transfer windows.
While we have six centre halfs the manager trusts only two.
Midfield looks as if it is about to lose its creative force.
All of the above has been clear since January.
Not to worry, all those bed wetters out there, apparently we are “tracking” and “monitoring” various players although some people may suggest that we should have been tracking and monitoring players from January onwards.
Seriously though, our squad is in no shape to compete in Europe (no laughing at the back) and domestically.
The time for “tracking” and “monitoring” is now running out and must be replaced by “action”.
If O’Riley does go we are shorn of so much creativity. Without reinforcements we are two or three injuries away from calamity.
over 100 points has only ever happened twice, it is a tall order given our increased european games,
Ten men won the league
Do you honestly believe that Idah is not an upgrade on Oh ?
Do you honestly believe Kuhn is not an upgrade on Haskabanovic ?
Do you honestly think that Bernardo / Iwata / Scales / Matt O / James F are not better players now than last year having all played their part delivering when it got tough in the final few months last season ?
Do you really not see having a decent back up international goalie is not an improvement on where we were ?
Are you seeing us playing worse football than 12 months ago ?
If you really think the answer is yes to these questions then we must be watching a very different Celtic.
Of course IF Matt or Reo moves then we will need to replace. And of course we need cover in certain areas as Paul rightly suggests but I can’t agree we are worse off right now.
I don’t think a comparison with der hun serves any purpose- we need to strengthen with cover at LB, CH and of course a replacement for Matt
Just shattered
Curious if you have seen problems you think no one else has.
Who would you have signed ?
St. Johnstone go and sit at the back of the bus
Rangers v Elite concluded.
It will be when rangers finally pay them.
Cash is King eh.
Good afternoon all from Kehoes, Dublin. Small doll gone shopping again. There maybe trouble ahead. 😳
BURNLEY78 on 20TH AUGUST 2024 12:35 PM
There are, or should be, people whose job it is at Celtic to identify these players. These same people will be getting paid a good wage to do that job.
Perhaps you are questioning the wrong person.
Everyone knows we’ve been light on players all summer and that there was a good possibility that we would lose O’Riley or Hatate.
Perhaps there will be a late influx of players but all we can go on is past performance and that doesn’t bode to well.
Paul re your ‘A lot could change between now and the turn of the year…’
Surely more than a few are hoping a lot could change between now and the end of the transfer windae?
A puzzler for me is how can guys like Kobayashi come from a technically better league like Japan yet not really force his way into our side; as a left-sided back, couldn’t he be wee Greg’s deputy ?
Also, no sign of Iwata at weekend; hope he’s not crocked or out-of-favour!
BRRB at 8.59 am
I initially read your comment as – Dublin pelicans enjoy my frequent visits .
Need to clean my glasses .
Nonsense CSC
“GlassTwoThirdsFull on 20th August 2024 12:28 pm
Absolutely no interest in what other clubs are doing.”
I find that hard to believe.
Fred Colon
Pelicans have rights anaw. This Guinness is lovely.
The calm before the storm
Stormy Monday Blues on a Tuesday.
Losing Reo or Matt would be disapointing. Losing both would be damaging. Another playmaker and a Brownie type type hard man would suffice.
We have to have another left back asap. Scales can be a a stand in, he was excellent there with Aberdeen, but we need a permanent left back. One good enough for Europe.
I am happy with the centre backs, as is Brendan, buthe seems unsure of the back ups. Change them, we have the money.
Playing the huns and CL clubs,without MOR and Hatate ,gives me the fear.Brendan said he wants quality not projects,2 midfielders of Matt goes,could become 3 if Hatate goes,we have 1 left back, 2 CBs will be put as well probably. Michael Nicholson, this is the time to earn your 2 grand a day.
Burnley78
Has the squad improved since the end of last season? No it hasn’t, despite the managers pleas to strengthen in certain areas. Its as clear as day to anyone that our recruitment process is a total car crash. To think otherwise is just plain delusional.
Bandwidth is an interesting analogy….
We have an excellent coaching and management team.
Our infrastructure is improving considerably
We have a great Stadium and great supporters
We have huge sums of money in the Bank
So yes, of course we have an incredible amount of bandwidth, more than capable of getting us to the last sixteen play-offs in the UCL – our stated objective
The problem we have is latency, we have an incredible amount of that too, which means our throughput is tiny compared to what could be achieve.
So let’s get shot of the latency and watch the throughput soar…
Just~a~thot
Hail Hail
Sunday’s excellent attendance….
Just goes to show that a Ticket ‘Exchange’ would be a great bonus to ST HOLDERS, and those who are not. It would also provide more income for Celtic.
Lots of youngsters getting to their first game their very occasional game. I wasn’t the only overseas fan in the stadium, either.
Clearly, there is demand for unused seats.
Get it done, Celtic….
Weeron
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Ten Men Won the League
So in what way is the squad weaker ?
Really simple question still ?
Even although you did not answer the even easier ones before.
Everyone and their granny has known, since he was snubbed for the Euros, that MO’R was for the off.
He was raging and our management knew this.
Why we haven’t signed a replacement, God only knows.