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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BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY
May your Uncle Neil Rest In Peace BT, the men who gave us Celtic remain forever in our hearts…
DESSYBHOY on1ST FEBRUARY 2018 4:39 PM
Auldheid
Any comments to make on this as part of the Res 12 investigation, who is the next mason to continue the cover up.
======%==
So cynical for one younger than I.
If it’s another mason then what are you guys via your representative associations the CSA and CST doing to make sure what you fear does not happen?
There will never be a better time to bring the Hampden House of Cards down than now and it should not be left in the hands of 4 water carriers.
Both organisations were briefed before AGM and should like anyone interested in fair governance be considering their position depending on the possible outcomes of the SFA CO investigation. No more brush offs.
Regarding Regan’s departure: what the CO should be finding is that in 2011, under Regan, the SFA were either negligent in awarding the licence or lied to by RFC but then complicit in covering up their negligence when it became clear in Aug 2011 overdue tax existed.
Regan presided over the process and his public utterances published on SFM show either he did not understand the SFA’s licensing responsibility as the licensor or he was attempting to mislead the public when questioned on the matter.
All of which is a reason for him to resign and whilst the public message is his failure to secure SFA business objectives is the reason few can doubt when presented with the evidence he is a DIDDY* that his ongoing presence can no longer be tolerated.
Given he is implicated either on grounds of negligence or complicity his removal should make it easier for the CO to do his job free of any personal pressure Regan might want to bring to bear on the CO investigation.
It is not the end but it could be the beginning of the end especially if the yoke of campaigning for fair governance is taken up by the wider Celtic community.
* see SFM. Is Regan a DIDDY.
Lennybhoy,
Be good to catchup?…..dunno…..after nearly 3 hours drinking with OT67…..;-))
hazeCSC
BIG PACKY
If my memory serves me well Chester(who had a big limp) was played by a guy called Dennis Weaver
who was in fact an olympic athlete.
mmm…..misread 16:10 as 6:10….
blamemyeyesCSC
BT
God bless your uncle Neilly and may he rest in peace.
Prayers said!
Take care and God bless.
PHILBHOY, correct.hh.
BT
Sad news about your Uncle Neil, may he RIP.
HH
Goooooood Evening CQN
A few points tonight
1) May Neil Grant rest in Peace, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
2) Welcome to the world famous Glasgow Celtic, Jack Hendry and Scott Bain
3) wonder if Bonnar and Gordon apologise to Michael Stewart, for totally get wrong their views/interpretation of Levien comments in Tues night, appears only Michael Stewart understands English on that program
4) GiRUY Levien, deflect deflect deflect
5) FtSFA, more should follow Reagan, how about Dickson, Petrie, Bryson for starters ( wonder if the FtSFA lawyer is getting somewhere near the truth ?)
I might have missed something
Oh yes
Thanks to the lurker face Uddingston (John) who contacted his cousin ( BhoyfromSky) to pass on info on Eddie Welsh
Hail Hail
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY, uncle neil rip ktf.
* Is Regan a DIDDY?
https://www.sfm.scot/is-regan-a-diddy/
Quite a bit of this will have been known to the SFA Board.
Distancing themselves from Regan makes sense to them.
BT.
Condolences on the passing of your Uncle. Thoughts and prayers with family and friends.
JAMES FORREST on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:25 PM
The levy is due on all transfers over $7m, they would never have gone above this as it automatically doubles the amount they had to pay. As you pointed out
It’s all details anyway, the story has been and gone and the peepul who were the intended audience have lapped it up. Read the interviews the other day with murty where he talks about King and his amazingness, about as authentic as one of Kevjungle’s recent posts, and as sure a pointer to what was coming as anything else
THE LURKINTIM.
I’ll see you around 3.00pm then.
Oh, I knew I forgot something
The Chinese transfer window is still open for another 27 days or something
Over to you Sevco and China (wonder if Sevco’s Hong Kong based director has any contacts here pulling strings for a Glib and Shamelesslia ????)
Another other thing
Read a wee snippet this morning on rumours Metro Bank pulling out of Sevco banking ? Surprised no one else picked up on this ????
RIP Neil
HH
HOT SMOKED on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:21 PM
Ref your advice to write to John Paul.
You might want to check your E mail was recd.by him.
An update came out on 9/10/17 indicating changes.EMail : SLO@celticfc.co.uk Twitter : @celticfcslo
So unless he has set up old address forwarding to new address he might not see your note.
People like King take great pleasure in lording it over people like murty.
Blantyre Tim – Thoughts and prayers with your Uncle Neilly, his family and friends at this sad time.
HH
Auldheid
Thanks for the reply, cynical, not a bit , years of experience yes, remember he will now trot of to UEFA and his CL marketing gig, just like Dallas did when found out.
I am happy with the transfer window, we have not sold anyone that Brendan did not want to lose at the stage.
Only Bain is the one that was unexpected but this was down to Gordon’s injury. Lewis Morgan, yes a prospect but Brendan obviously sees something and I think he will be competing sooner rather than later for a first team place.
Hendry, it is quite clear Brendan has been impressed by him, especially when we have paid over the odds for him with his Contract expiring next year with Dundee.
Comperr (spl), don’t much about him but he has experience and Brendan sanctioned the move.
From the brief glimpses I saw on Tuesday, Musonda, class act. Some may argue why take a Player on an 18 month loan when we are only developing another Club’s Player. Had we not earned the money we did through the UCL and had we not Brendan as our Manager, signing Players of the ilk of Musonda would be but a pipe dream. Giroud cost £18 million for an 18 month Contract with a one year option. How much wages and how old he is! I am more than happy as a ST Holder, Shareholder and Supporter for the Club to spend money on quality Players, even if it is only 18 months. We cannot attract Players of the ilk of Musonda on permanent deals due the lack of money invested and competition we play in Scotland.
We invested around £8 million on Kouassi and Ntcham, from what I have seen so far, money well spent on quality.
Brendan has okay so far in both what he has won and in terms of the quality of Player we are watching.
PS: Kevin, I do not pay £49 to watch sevco as I do not go to to the bigotdome as I no longer recognise them .
I do not pay £49 to watch sevco at Celtic Park. I pay circa £636 for my ST, this gives me 21 games, albeit one is a friendly. I pay circa £30 a game to watch the Team I support at Celtic Park, yes this includes a couple of sevco games, where you get £49 I don’t know and wish you would change the record with the boring and inaccurate reference to £49!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Take care Blantyretim and whole family. RIP Neilly.
Something for young Karamoko to read.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/sports/soccer/real-madrid-martin-odegaard.html
Lennybhoy,
Well said m8
GENE,
Loved Andy Pandy and the Lone Ranger. Loved the Range Rider too. Could never stand Blue Peter or Doctor Who. The others Big Packy mentions were favourites too. Loved Rawhide too.
Top Cat and the Flintstones, Yogi and Boo Boo still raise a smile.Huckleberry Hound wasn’t too bad either.
HELURKINTIM on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:38 PM
Yip see you and OldTim just after 16:00 in the BV.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Best wishes BT
BLANTYRETIM:
May God Bless your Uncle Neil’s Soul, raise a glass to him, eyes looking up and say…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BT- Condolences HH
Today Zenit St Petersburg listed all who are eligible to play against Celtic Glasgow.Only one new face is Anton Zabolotnyi. He is a striker of very doubtful quality. Artem Dzyuba and Aleksandr Kerzhakov left the club earlier.
BIG PACKY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:33 PM
PHILBHOY, yes cheyanne bodie, what about bronco lane, and marshall matt dillon and chester.hh.
*missed out Sugarfoot/Tenderfoot
PHILBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 8:39 PM
BIG PACKY
If my memory serves me well Chester(who had a big limp) was played by a guy called Dennis Weaver who was in fact an olympic athlete.
*last saw him riding his horse down 5th Avenue and lassoing the bad guys lol
BT
RIP Neil.
Condolences BT, your coming to an age where this will be common, disnae make it any easier though.
TONTINE TIM, remember wagon train and maverick.hh.
Every time I see duncaster i think of Zoonie the Lazoon – a lazy so and so
blantyretim.
I’m sorry to hear of the Death of your Uncle. A wee trip to Philadelphia tomorrow will soon get you back on track, don’t drink to much.
BT
Had the great pleasure of being in your Uncle Neilly’s company many times, while he told be about his playing days with Denniston Waverly and Blantyre Celtic, a lovely Man may he rest in peace