Late last night Celtic got their goalkeeper, Scott Bain (26), on loan from Dundee, from where he had already been loaned to Hibs this month, while also landing Jack Hendry (22) on a permanent deal from Dundee.
The Hendry deal is intriguing. The player didn’t get much of a chance to shine before being released by Wigan in the summer. Two dozen games for Dundee later and he is a Celtic player. This is not a conventional career path, so what are Celtic doing here?
First of all, the player has the attributes Brendan Rodgers looks for in a central defender. He has pace and is comfortable with the ball at his feet. The jump from Dens Park to the Allianz Arena is eye-watering, but when you have just signed a four and a half year contract at Celtic, someone must think you are capable of reaching the required standard to play at the latter venue one day.
I don’t know if Jack will make it that far in the game, but I am pretty sure Brendan Rodgers will improve him as a player and craft him into a valuable professional – one we may sell at a profit one day.
Set alongside the signing of Lewis Morgan (21), you can see a strategy here. If a Scottish player in his early 20s raises his profile high enough, we’ll sign him. Only some will make the grade, but the aggregate financial consideration of having these players at the club will probably be profitable.
Alongside all investment in youth sits Marvin Compper (32), one time German international and by all accounts, the real deal. Marvin will have the responsibility of leading the younger defenders through their on-field development.
The other side of the transfer window equation passed without Celtic cashing in any of their premium chips. By the time Moussa took to the field against Hearts on Tuesday, he knew he was going nowhere, and his performance indicated that whatever was previously on his mind had passed. Kieran Tierney’s recent contract renewal seems to have convinced all that there is no business to be had there. I expect some movement out in the summer in the central mid and central def positions.
You and I have been through January transfer windows when the objective has been to make sure we win the league. Now it is all about player development and getting ready for the inevitable Champions League qualifiers. We have not measurably improved our chances against Zenit this month, but it is not clear how possible this is (or even if it is necessary).
The market in England took another step into the ridiculous this window, possibly in anticipation of the announcement of a bumper new TV deal later this month. The new deal will not come into effect until summer 2019, but previously we have seen player values inflate immediately after the deal is announced. Game Theory suggests this inflating possibility will have been anticipated.
What you and I have also pondered for over a decade is when the great English football bubble will burst. I’m not going to predict that date, but just as sure as we knew Rangers would crash and burn years before they did, so will the English Premier League. The model has inherent risks which cannot be safely accommodated. Let’s wait and see how much Sky TV are prepared to pay this time.
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Greenpinta – Celtic are charging a lot of money for a game they don’t really seem to mind losing? It sort of tells us that the mindset within CP really isn’t in the right place. Sort of feels what they think is that they have met their objectives for Europe this season so anything else is a bonus.
Field of Drams – I am not decrying the arrival of Musunda – but what strategy are we following here? Seems to be their either none or we just make it up as we go along (well certainly Paul seems to).
This wasn’t anywhere near a good transfer window. Brendan said we don’t need numbers just quality. Is that what actually happened? Celtic also got themselves, of their own violition, into a complete mess regarding Dembele. What exactly was going on there?
Big Eddy plays better wi the Invisible McGregor oot the team!
The midfield looked more solid, wi the Invisible McGegor oot the team!
The defence had more secure protection fae the midfield, wi the Invisible McGregor oot the team!
The goalie looked more secure / protected by the, more secure defence who benefitted fae the more solid shape fae the midfield, wi the Invisible McGregor oot the team!
The Green & White Minstrels rooled the place, wi the Invisible McGregor oot the team!
Keep The Invisible McGregor oot The Team CSC
Anywye,……HH
…….oot.
Celtic are run as a business, end of, thats all the suits are interested in, even when we appear to be cash rich we still scrimp and save.
the comment i found most galling is, we might make a profit on hendry. Where do you begin with that, if thats your ambition is to make a profit before he’s even kicked a ball.
In China, any transfer where the buying fee is over £5.2m the buying club has to pay a levy of the full transfer fee to the Chinese government
The reported fee for the Argentine midfielder (15 caps) that the club bought yesterday was less than that, strangely enough
I found this out in 10 minutes on google
If awe the £££££millions don’t get put back onto the pitch
so who troosers awe £££££millions then ?
Oh, and, who are the real gullibilly’s ?
Anywye,…….HH
…….oot.
KEVJUNGLE
Kin ye gie it a rest wi’ the Minstrels patter, it’s no even remotely funny and I seriously doubt that our young black players would take kindly to being compared to a half daft show where white folks dress up as black people for the entertainment of ither white folks which thankfully has been consigned to the dustbin of terrible tv shows of our time, probably resting next to Love Our Neighbour and other 70’s racist shite..
HH
FIELDOFDRAMS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 12:36 PM
Sums it up!
HH
Levein is a fraud and and a hypocritical liar.
The tackle that Cochran got injured on was not even a foul.
Cochran is a good young player but he is no shrinking violet and is not shy about putting the boot in.
He seems comfortable pointing fingers and using innuendo against our captain knowing a compliant media will take up the mantle on his behalf.
His team committed more than double the fouls we did and that was with a compliant ref.
He must not have witnessed the knee high studs up challenge on KT that went unpunished.
He may not of seen it with his myopia as it only happened about 7 yards from Hearts bench.
I think Celtic should officially complain about his deliberate attempt to smear the Celtic and Scotland captain.
You’ll be waiting a long time if you’re waiting for the EPL bubble to burst.
It was born at the dawn of satellite TV, built its business accordingly, and has survived three generations of new technology since. It has survived one worldwide football recession and three economic recessions, one the hardest and furthest reaching of all time.
It measures itself against its peer leagues in Europe, and maintains a consistent advantage in value generation with every new iteration.
Nothing lasts forever of course, but forever is a long time.
Forget about it and get on with a plan to compete with it.
Like pretty much every transfer window rushing to judge it as “good” or “not good” is pointless
We can all have a go but no will know for a couple of months at least. That’s the drawback with a long-term strategy of sustainability that places value above bling
……oot.
The thing that gets me about Sky is you’re paying to watch adverts. Ok, you’re paying for the programmes between them but they’re still there. Never paid for it, and never will. Sky that is.
GREENPINATA on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 1:11 PM
I’d say go for it. Lots of fun, dont have to worry about grammar rules until you get to a certain level. And a great excuse to travel to Spain more often if you want to practice!
HH
Leo Fasan signed for Killie
Fan-A-Tic
Correct. I counted 5 fouls on Kieran Tierney in the first 20 minutes – most of them late tackles after he’d passed the ball. He was deliberately targeted IMO. The clownshoe Levein has a cheek to criticise Scott Brown for the fair challenge on Cochrane. His team are cloggers.
Frankly I think Celtic TV’s last two transfer windows were shocking. A series of Old Firmist media prostitutes have poluted my jittering, stalling computer screen this season…
That is to say my screen has been polluted…
I wonder if Levein is putting himself in line for a job with the dead club.
Sat waiting all evening at the airport for the arrival of Jaun Riquelme when it eventually dawned on me that it’s extremely unlikely he’d be jetting in to Aberdeen International Airport.
Brown should tell Levein that what he said are lies and that all Scott was doing was restoring the natural order.
BATEEN BHOY,
I thought everybody knew that Riquelme was flying into terminal 5 at Inverness International Airport.
I don’t know who is more disappointed that ace marksman Oli McBurnie didn’t sign for sevco, me or the huns?
As regards Levein, anybody who plays 4-6-0 cannot be taken seriously by anybody but that’s the SMSM for you.
GREENPINATA on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 1:08 PM
Neg 2,
I als wondered about the Zenit statement by Paul 67.
Some may think that it already a foregone conclusion.
P lease dont give that Trumpet any credence.On to anything he can have a jibe at Pal 67 or the Board with
Paul was saying,no matter how much money we spent on a player,it really would not improve our chances against Zenith.I think we all know this.VVD did not help Liverpool any in their cup game against poor opposition.Commper is for the CL.
That Oli McBurnie sounds like a Boaty McBoatface type character.
Does it refer to an oil fired heater that sevco was interested in?
BATTERED BUNNET
The EPL bubble will eventually burst but not anytime soon.
The inevitable all-star Euro and World leagues will diminish it’s popularity .
Also the FA understand this and are properly prepared for the changing landscape.They have kept interest high in the lower divisions using the trickle down effect of TV money.
Their development of young talent through their national centre is paying dividends as the success at world and European international tournaments proved last year.
They have the benefit of a 50 million plus population to sustain a decent tv revenue stream and still receive international tv sales.
Football is changing and the future landscape is unclear but one thing that should be a slight concern for the English would be the example of Scots and Irish youngsters.
Many now no longer support their local teams preferring the glamour of EPL teams.
It is a generation that we are losing.
Many young English who do not support the Arsenal and Man utd’s etc would probably switch their allegiance to the Real.Barca or PSG’S.
” Keep The Invisible McGregor oot The Team CSC ”
Kev J,
I`m glad you mentioned that at the end. I didn`t know where you were going with that post @ 1:30.
JJ
67 European Cup Winners on 1st February 2018 12:48 pm
Sandman 12.18
1). Who would you have liked to join us ?????
2). I have said on here before that Paul67 could be accused not often of being PLs PR man. But I believe that this relationship means Paul67 get accurate info from Celtic before the media
67 ECW
========================================
:)))))
I think by now as WITS will have pointed out to you, that you have realised I’m going to need a bigger boat…
Like your teachers told you in school, do read to the end, please ;))
That aside, I still didn’t prevent the tarantulas piling on with their pre-prepared doom the first article afte rthe window shut.
Someday we’ll sing Messi in January and all this despair will be a distant memory.
No, he’ll be ‘over the hill’ with no sell on value, getting paid too much to swan about like he was on holiday, and keeping promising youngsters out the team, a sure sign Celtic have no vision or plan moving forward…
https://twitter.com/celticf1rst/status/959022018523000833?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eios%7Ctwgr%5Enet.whatsapp.WhatsApp.ShareExtension%7Ctwcon%5E7100%7Ctwterm%5E0
Scott Brown: 5 red cards in 502 matches (inc Internationals) since he joined Celtic.
Ryan Jack 4 red cards in 22 matches (inc Internationals :)) since he joined Rangers.
And Craig Levein thinks players need protection from Broony?
I do not think Craig Levein`s comment re Scott Brown should go unchallenged. His tone did not suggest that he was joking. That makes it a very serious allegation ie Scott Brown is out to injure fellow professionals.
Could a Manager really say anything worse about a player? The fact that he is Celtic`s Captain makes it an indirect and inflammatory criticism of the Club . ie Celtic have chosen a thug as our representative on the pitch.
Truly a dreadful comment.
JJ
Bada Bing. That’s an interesting stat!
Jack obviously trying to endear himself to the hoarde either that or Murty wears a cardigan on private!
HH
The SFA should be after Levein, accusing a player of trying to injure every player he comes up against.
Paul 67
Sky are having to pay billions for EPL football because if they don’t then the likes of BT will.
There is no chance of it all going boobs up ,any time soon.
We need to get into the dancing ,not stare in through a misty window ,hoping some kind hearted soul will invite us in.
TT
Hi Paul67,
“If a Scottish player in his early 20s raises his profile high enough, we’ll sign him. Only some will make the grade, but the aggregate financial consideration of having these players at the club will probably be profitable.”
Brendan stated that he was going to build his Celtic team around Scots, this is a first rate strategy. They are much more likely to be our “long serving” players. Every team needs that, every Club needs that. It seems to me Brendan is looking at the strengths and weaknesses of all our teams.
From the first team, to the development squad, through the Academy teams and onto the Youths. We are taking time in the transfer windows to improve right down the line. To do this, to facilitate the time and resources for this to happen – points to an exceptional Management Team.
The GK was just one of those things, I think Scott Bain coming in, a top Scottish keeper brought in at short notice, proves standing of the Club. Welcome to Celtic Scott hope you excel…
We have brought in an experienced CH who has spent his days playing his football in a fabulously demanding and technical league. He will be a great addition to our defence and the team’s footballing acumen.
Then Charly Musonda, what a signing, a great player now, never mind prospect. Some are saying what of the long term? Isn’t he expensive? Well first and foremost, we simply NEED this level of quality in our team when it comes to playing our most challenging games. Secondly, we are talking about a short term boost… the focus of our professionals on Tuesday had soared before Charly had liked a ball in anger… he’s raised the bar.
In the medium term, what we can accomplish in terms of performance improvement, results and exposure will ensure we are elevated to the next level. Tier 2 football is key for Celtic.
Long term? We’ll see. I think at least we’ll see top young prospects viewing Celtic as the go to place to enhance their career. And hopefully we might have another wee legend to reminisce aboot…
Of course Brendan has managed to thin down the squad once again – this is hugely important, the bloated squads of the last decade were simply burdensome. Sure it’s a pity Liam Henderson has gone but the fact is we had six Scots vying for two positions, two positions where actually foreign players are arguably our best performers.
The fact is, as we raise the bar we are going to see genuine quality leave.
So Brendan’s 4th(?) Window and we are now seeing what looks like his squad, we are seeing his strategies and tactics coming to the fore… we just have to watch and wonder as the future unfolds.
Hail Hail
BADA BING
If that tit Jack had not been wearing his hun invisibility cloak he would have had more cards.
Difference between Jack in a Dons or Huns jersey is he knows refs are lenient when you wear blue.
This has made him an even worse player as his reckless abandon led to injury.
Paul67 et al
Welcome to all our new bhoys, Scott, Jack and Charlie, not to mention Martin who has been with us for a wee while. Some good options there for Brendan. Like their enthusiasm and attitude at signing for us. Wonder if all those Hibernian players we signed back in the day turned up in their Hibs gear?
Meanwhile, can anyone explain why Martin is barred from playing in the Europa League for Celtic? Cannot see the logic there.
So will BR play Bain or stick with DeVires, I’d imagine the latter as he is more experienced and plays the ball out well. I should imagine Bain will get a chance in some League games to see how he takes to us.