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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Aggregate financial consideration …. profitable.
If this a football site or have I stumbled across the FT’s secret forum?
What a load of tripe — and to think amortisation was only the start.
Poor window — in the context of politics it was radical not progressive.
Some interesting low level stuff and a high quality / high potential loan.
Now we have three of them — and two will not be around for the CL.
MC@32 has the feel of PS about it so another positive.
However we are managing pennies but hoarding the pounds.
BR has not impressed.
He has given the appearance of trying to shove MD out the door.
Plus TR playing this season with a petted lip make sense.
Top of BR’s list to Santa has been a No.10 — CMu has been on the radar for a while.
Plus we are no further forward making the CB assets sweat.
Hopefully things will settle down.
Good performances against ZSP will help with CL preparations.
Hopefully no more anemic MF trios looking lost when a forward pass was needed.
All to play for.
Finally CL really is a walloper.
Not one ounce of class in his whole body.
BIG PACKY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 9:20 PM
TONTINE TIM, remember wagon train and maverick.hh.
*aye Flint McCullough, James Garner and Jack Kelly in the latter although they effed it up bringing “cousin” Roger Moore intae it.
BT
Sorry to hear about your uncle.
May he RIP
BHOYS3 7.19
The pub straight across the road from the Midway usually shows the games can’t remember name at moment but big telly through the back , Oishin and Paula hosts of the Midway will keep you right lovely people.
BT condolences on your loss I will add him to my prayers god bless.HH
MALORBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 9:24 PM
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
*the good old days when Junior fitba was in its prime. got tae know an oul guy oot here who was captain of brigton waverley, Celtic supporter and practicing RC.
Good Evening.
Here is my small tribute to Stewart Regan as he resigns from the SFA
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/social-unrest/
Jack Hendry – really pleased to have the lad on board, big potential.
However…
He’s quoted as follows in the Dundee Evening Telegraph (the ‘Tully’) tonight, from Twitter:
“After a very long day couldn’t of been happier to get it over the line.”
Oh dear. A genuine sentiment, I’m sure. But clearly didn’t go to a Kafflik school.
As they say, remember folks – it’s just a bit of fun! Nothing against the kid. Looking forward to seeing him in the Hoops.
Tontine Tim
As a Blantyre Bhoy l remember Jimmy Johnstone being Farmed out to Blantyre Celtic to get toughened up, which he sure did, great grounding for young players at the time
Clumpany,
Really good piece, a combo of bitter humour and unmistakable ire. Very effective.
Someone has the chance, as Regan had, to write themselves into the history of our game as a reforming angel, if you will. Someone has the chance to be a hero for a hundred years – not a Regan, a Farry, or a complete non-entity. Who is out there to grasp the nettle?
Not holding my breath.
Wow, anybody notice how Chris and his chums at Sportsound were able to get the Scott Brown ‘story’ as prime click bait on the national BBC sports page?
Normally that’s reserved for the EPL, NFL, F1, English woman’s tiddlywinks, cricket etc. But earlier on it was top of page. I can’t recall if they gave an undefeated treble the same profile.
Meanwhile if you click through to football, then scroll way, way down the page to Scottish Football and click through there’s no mention of BR defending his captain? Not a word.
We’re paying for this, folks.
Blogger formerly known as…
Yeah, some of us are paying for it. Others aren’t, since not having a TV licence is no longer a criminal offence.
Of course, I’m not in the latter group hem-hem
MM@9:24 –
what/who is/are this FT, CL, MC@32, PS, BR, MD, TR, CMu, CB, ZSP, CL, MF and CL that you speak of?
Why the secret code? Names don’t surely take that long to write out?
Oh and I did (eventually) get most of them but only after my 3rd read ;-)
BT,
Condolences. From the things that have beensaid here, he sounds like he was a nice man.
Jobo
who is this MM of whom you speak? :)
I see people mentioning Leanne Dempster as Reagan’s replacement.
I think you’ll find Walter Smith is probably ahead of her in the line.
Mad Mitch
“MC@32 has the feel of PS about it so another positive. ”
I get the first part with Compper’s age added nut the PS
Is it?
Post Script?
Porn Star?
Please See?
Phone Sex?
Personal Secretary?
Princess Sophie?
Personal Stash?
Pleasing Sex?
or Pat Stanton???
MALORBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 9:32 PM
Tontine Tim
As a Blantyre Bhoy l remember Jimmy Johnstone being Farmed out to Blantyre Celtic to get toughened up, which he sure did, great grounding for young players at the time
*as a wee bhoy delivering the Evening Times i remember reading about the wee mhan on page 3, the juniors page, he had been capped by Junior Scotland and I couldnae wait for him as his future wee pal willie henderson was tormenting the lives out of us.
If my memory serves me well John Cushley’s da Ned was a committee man with the Blantyre Celts.
FIELDOFDRAMS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 9:47 PM
I see people mentioning Leanne Dempster as Reagan’s replacement. I think you’ll find Walter Smith is probably ahead of her in the line.
*do you have to write his real name, I refuse to do that in case my fingers fall off.
I enjoy much of what MAD MITCH posts. He clearly knows what he’s talking about.
The problem is working out WHO he’s talking about. And that is a great pity.
Tontine Tim, I got my secretary to do it
GENE on 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 9:21 PM
Every time I see duncaster i think of Zoonie the Lazoon – a lazy so and so
I think of a girls hockey team….
Tontine Tim
You are correct about Ned Cushely he
was indeed, he was also the Manager, and my old School Janitor
I guess the Cisco Kid and Pancho were before most people’s time.
http://www.punditarena.com/football/mquinn/watch-anger-over-scott-browns-crunching-tackle-on-teenager/
Craig Levin should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute because no matter how many times you watch the tackle, there simply is no foul play.
BLANTYRETIM
Condolences on the loss of your Uncle Neil.
R I P
Well, F’s it’s getting L8 and S of U have W in the morning. So BN to OA and look A this P.
Just 2MSs ;-)
enigmaCSC
SCULLYBHOY
I missed the first half the other night so thanks for posting the tackle, whit Latrine playing at there’s no foul there, Broony lands on top of the player and that looks like when he got injured but Scott played the ball cleanly no even a foul.
He’s bang at it Levine..
To think we even had a few on here who preferred his name when we were looking for a manager:((
BT
Condolences to you and your family on the death of your uncle
I’m not sure if this has already been discussed previously within the thread, but I cannot understand this statement from Paul67:
“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).”
A clear case of managing expectations. So the signings of Sinclair, Dembele and Ntcham over the last couple of years have not appreciably increased our chances of beating teams of Zenit’s ilk, as opposed to going into the same fixture with Ciftci, Scott Allan and Mackay-Stevens in the starting 11?
I would argue that we have signed players that can compete in this level; the issue is that we have not signed a sufficient number, despite the resources available to us. Furthermore, if Musonda was not signed for Europe, then for what reason was he signed?
The statement is a clear case of cognitive dissonance.
I can’t begin to approach the “even if it is necessary” statement; that’s fair comment if it is Barca, Real, Bayern or PSG, but now Zenit falls into that category? Keep lowering the bar Paul and one day we may even fail to attain that objective.
THE CISCO KID
https://youtu.be/nEDB62oKv2M
BT:Condolences on the passing of your uncle.RIP. Usual candle in St Winin’s at weekend.
Currently reading a ‘programme’ ,’Celtic,A tribute to Celtic F.C. From Celtic F.C. Supporters Association . 1965 to 1974 World League Record Holders’ Price 25p. Back page advert is for Milnrow Development Co. McNeill and McBride with the 4 hotels,3 of which are/were in Ayrshire!
A gathering it would appear. Only 5 photographs of players,either en-masse or individual,but more members than the Mother Lodge from CSA (ecexcutive and social committees!) mug shots of sports reporters adverts galore.!! I should have got 25p taking it :)
Anyone remember it ?
BTW I saw Bobby Carroll with ‘The Meda’ on that cup run. Great junior .
SFTB @ 9.50
Took you long enough but you got there in the end …
PS the man himself.— if the rumour is correct he was bought to polish up the big Teuchter diamond that was RMcD.
Now that would have been a pairing to savour at CB — GC and RMcD.
Unfortunately it was not to be.
Levein
Scum then Scum now Scum forever
GM @ 9.40
They play their little games.
It is all they have left.
That they manage it suggests that they work hard and can pull strings down south.
No matter how many fans we have in high places there are enough low level “haters” to cause us problems.
D66,
That wee smile on Levein’s as he suggested All needed protected from Broonie said it all, man trying to protect his own lack of kill in managing a team. Smoke and mirrors man.
Kill =skill btw
Levei?
Anywhere else in the world,comments like his would have been ripped to shreds by the media,and then had him on a charge.
Here,he’s hailed a hero for his bravery comments.
Brendan’s riposte is a good start,but the club should be taking it further.
Bravery,brave. Ffs…
Ain’t Going to Goa.. alabama 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hhzAgAzSr4