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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THOMTHE TIM Thanks very much will certainly give it my best shot HH.
HRVATSKI JIM on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 7:45 PM
Tonight CeeBeebies is showing the 5,000th edition of Blue Peter. Anyone feeling old?
*aye me, I saw the very first show on our old black and white Ferguson tele. I was only 10. I also saw the 1st Crackerjack with Eamon Irish as my bluenose pals called him.
OLDTIM67, yes that team is ingrained in my memory was talking about the 64/66 team .hh.
Jaba’s dossier on the smsm must be bulging, there is no other way to account for things, I understand that most are huns themselfs but ffs, to print and tell lie after lie when they know they are telling porkies ffs, they will be the ones who lose out in the end when their jobs go, they will struggle big time to get another job
Gene.
I think I made a mistake,I thought they were talking about 25th May 1967. and I know that John Fallon was the 12th man that day.
Not sure why so many on here feel that Traynor has something on so many in the Scottish Media. All my life, the MSSM has sided with Rangers then and Sevco now. No blackmail is necessary to make them toe the party line.
JJ
TET
the problem is when they start with a lie ……………………………
50 shades
didn’t know regan posted on here – got my suspicions mind :)
PHILBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 7:56 PM
TONTINE TIM
The blog’s finest poster without a doubt!
CQN at it’s very best!
Thank you!
—————————————————————————
Certainly our best story teller with an incredible memory for details, I love it.
HH
Gene,
The problem the Smsm has is the same as King, they tell so many lies they can no longer distinguish between those lies and the truth
Nope
What happened with Mags/Celtarella
Whats he done
First memories of telly was visiting my great aunt in Partick on a Saturday in mid 50’s – Andy Pandy and the Lone Ranger ( now there’s an idea for a programme)
BIG PACKY.
Yes that team should be ingrained on everyone’s memory, what game are you talking about in 64/66.
WITS
He also told the Moderator to (flowery language).
Tontime Tim & Oldtim67 on the same thread…..The Clash of Memories…..;-))
StorytellersCSC
OLDTIM67, just talking about the team, fallon young and gemmell, clark mcneil and kennedy, could not remember the forward line.hh.
Philbhoy
Don’t take this wrong way but was there any context,were you arguing.?
Not trying to justify any abuse. Just curious as to why he would do that
JJ
So please explain to me how the likes of Sky news and other english media outlets spout the sevco crap that level 5 tell them to, I know what you are saying re the scottish lot, but surely one or two must have a shred of credibility, maybes not, Jim Spence.
HH
………
Gene
Aye, the sad thing is the huns don’t buy their rags either, now I could understand it if they were selling paper to beat the band.
HH
THELURKINTIM.
Fancy a drink in the B/V on Friday I’ll be in around 3.10pm if you fancy a bevvy.
WITS
No argument from me.
The Mod deleted one of his posts and I thanked the Moderator for doing so. (Greta post Mod!)
Greta = great
Just seen the explanation for the departure of one of our posters.
Blue Peter badge for the Moderator.
GENE, how about chingascook last of the mohicans, laramie ,highway patrol, dragnet, ivanhoe, william tell, jimmy edwards whacko shall i go on.hh.
I realise that Celtarella`s departure is far more important but if anyone feels as I do re Levein`s comment and would like to let Celtic know, here is our Liaison Officer`s email address:
jptaylor@celticfc.co.uk
I have already sent him an email asking that he let`s Peter know how I/we feel.
I cannot recall a Manager`s comment annoying me more. It is so unprofessional and goes very strongly against the unwritten Code of the Fellowship of Managers. I am sure that, after his `Natural Order` comment, we wouldn`t have too much difficulty in gathering support from the Hibs fans.
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:01 PM
Not sure why so many on here feel that Traynor has something on so many in the Scottish Media. All my life, the MSSM has sided with Rangers then and Sevco now. No blackmail is necessary to make them toe the party line.
*aye no kiddin, and it goes back tae when primrose-ure pledged the deid team tae the goatshaggin cause and started tae recruit among the ranks of breest baring and tangerine ludges, not just players but fans, business associates, tradesmen, clerks, accountants, policemen, judicial officers of the court and most importantly the media who would champion the cause of the new establishment club.
You have to look no further than the Jimmy Quinn case where he was accused of attacking a hun player on the park. The player, his team mates and even his mother swore that it didnae happen and the player injured himself when trying to untangle from Jimmy after they had collided. The SMSM kept it going and the SFA complied with this assertion.
I had a former school mate who I used to go to games with and he worked in Hope Street for the Sunday paper. He told me that he and a cleaner were the only ben afflecks in the place, after we had beaten them it was like a morgue but if they won, which was unusal at one time, we were lucky tae get a paper the next morning as they were all celebrating. Don’t forget that some of the papers had their own ludge on their premises.
OT67,
Tomoz?….aye….be good to see you D ;-))
H.H.
I’m quite sure evidence of the bid could be easily produced. In the filing cabinet between the Dallas Cowboys letter and the Leipzig offer for Barrie McKay…..
BIG PACKY
The Range Rider!
A wee bit later was my all time favourite Cheyanne (Clint Walker)
When I read a Lee Child novel (Jack Reacher) I visualise Clint Walker not the vertically challenged millionaire, Tom Cruise.
I’m home early from the funeral of my uncle Neil Grant
Neilly was a parkhead bhoy who came to Blantyre in 1957
He was an uncle who took me to the matches back in the late 70’ early 80’ when my dad was unable to do so
I miss you uncle Neilly you will forever be in my heart☘️☘️
A humiliating day for BBC Scotland, and what makes it worse is that there is plenty to back @BBCKheredine’s original story up … but not one verifiable fact that in any way knocks it down. Shame on the Corporation for their cowardice.
https://thecelticblog.com/2018/02/blogs/humiliation-for-the-bbc-as-it-bows-down-to-sevco-over-the-phantom-morelos-story/
JJ
I e mailed him earlier and got a..thank you for you e mail, we note your concern.
Waffle if I may say so, they don’t give a and have no intention of rocking the boat, the boat that with a wee nudge would capsize if anyone so wished, the powers presently are a shambles, what’s the odds a hun gets the CEO’s job, odds on me thinks.
HH
TET
I feel that the English Media are simply informed by the Scottish Media so spout the same rubbish.
My experience in England was that, not being interested in Scottish football enough to check out the reality, they have a very simplistic view which sees Celtic fans as anti-British and supporters of IRA terrorism. Rangers, on the other hand, are perceived as fine chaps who fly the Union Jack love their Queen and Country.Their Media does not find it too difficult to go along with that perception. They might be a wee bit less successful in Manchester and any other English towns were the Huns have left their indelible trademark.
JJ
PHILBHOY, yes cheyanne bodie, what about bronco lane, and marshall matt dillon and chester.hh.
OLDTIM67 on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:16 PM
You definitely be in the BV tomorrow, if so I’ll pop in after work, about 16:10 get that message?
Remember, can’t stay long as we have a celebration for my Father-in-Law’s 80th.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BT,
No Philly then…..who’s watchin yer da ;-))
Get a drink wae OT67 tomoz?
TET
If I receive anything different from JPT, I will post the gist of it on here.
Buenos Noches,
JJ
JJ
As soon as I posted that I knew what your answer would be and I have to say I agree, sadly :-(
HH