Brendan Rodgers brought five players to the club this transfer window: Moussa Dembele, Kolo Toure, Scott Sinclair, Dorus de Vries and Cristian Gamboa, two defenders, a wide midfielder, a striker and a goalkeeper. Moussa has been used sparingly so far, but there’s a decent chance four out of the five will be first choice for our key games this season. Kristoffer Ajer also arrived but was signed up by Ronny Deila earlier this year.
The leavers over the summer were mostly deadwood, with honourable mentions to Charlie Mulgrew and Stefan Johansen, both former Player of the Year winners. Our best wishes go with them. We also saw Saidy Janko escape on loan to Barnsley, Scott Allan head to Rotherham for the season, while Aidan Nesbitt will continue his apprenticeship at Morton until next summer.
You would be hard pressed to identify a better transfer window than this since the ‘Robbie Keane window’, which looked good at the time but was ultimately unproductive. Try naming one. Peter Lawwell’s adage about coming out of the window stronger than we went into it, was unequivocally achieved.
We also managed to achieve something you and I have debated here for years: spend early in the window in enhance your chances of reaching the Champions League. No one should be in any doubt that the reason we were able to achieve this, this season, was down to the personal pull of Brendan Rodgers.
Kolo, Scott and Moussa would not be here for any other manager, and without them, we’d not be in the Champions League. It wasn’t a decision to spend early this year that we didn’t want to do in earlier years, we’ve simply not had the drawing power to get the targets we wanted. That included Teemu Pukki, who wasn’t prepared to walk among us until we’d delivered Champions League football for him to enjoy. This is the reality, even for everyday-jobbers like Teemu.
Those of us who like the scientific approach to football won’t like this. Success shouldn’t be about reputations, it should be finding good managers or players who are undervalued, and giving them a platform to shine.
What the last two years demonstrated more than anything else, is that a football dressing room is an incredibly difficult place to get scientific. Brendan’s reputation as a top manager helps him deliver success, which we’re all happy about.
I spoke to someone last night who felt “cheated” by the window. “Why?” I asked. “Because we were promised a major spend. Dermot was raging at that other lot after the semi-final and we were promised a big spend. A week ago we were promised James McCarthy.”
Honestly, some journalist writes a complete fantasy and we’re jumping off cliffs after one of the best July and Augusts we’ve had in years. Don’t confuse media output with actual reality. It’s mostly nonsense. Dermot left the game in question before the penalties, there was no overreaction from the other lot.
And Celtic told anyone who asked that they had no intention of signing James McCarthy. If a fan told you otherwise, his taxi driver-source was misinformed. It happens. If a media outlet told to this, they either wanted to run the story without checking, or didn’t care.
Did we want more from the window? Yes. We all did and we all always do. That’s why Celtic were still on the hunt for a deal or two yesterday, but the manager’s primary bases were all covered. Celtic will continue to do what they always have done financially – spend all the money that comes in over any business period you care to mention.
Enjoy this season, I think it’s going to be a memorable one.
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macjay1,
Matthew 24:14
Defo off to bed.
We are the Last ones, can’t you see?
I hope someone dropped The Word
It is so easy to use The Word in the wrong way.
God Bless Every Celt.
PETEC on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 5:44 AM
Excellent response.
Disappointed for big Frase.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37243639
feck it.
Another vodka poured with Apple & Rhubarb as a mixer. :D
macjay1,
Again……
Barca Fan Footage
The Winners will come from the Group we are participating in. :))
Come on the Celts.
At least gie Efe a shot where he was MOTM first game.
Big Kolo @ the Back is just reassuring.
And Time to Breathe and let things develop.
I’m hoping Efe is here for Years.
He is Celtic to the CORE.
PETEC on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 6:00 AM
feck it.
Another vodka poured with Apple & Rhubarb as a mixer. :D
=======================================================
Jeez , mate.
Making me thirsty.
macjay1,
2-0 down
Junglism.
Thankfully, I didnae experience the warm leg. I always got to the centre to see the Maestro as well.
I was hoping for Xavi to join for a Season to coach more than anything else. :))
Warm leg ? Remember it well .
From a lurching exponent of micturition.
And then.
” Gonnae gie`s ma limit ?”
All part of life`s rich terracing tapestry.
Win, Lose or Draw…..
I loved the drama of the 5-4 Partizan game.
That was a Rollercoaster.CSC
Come on the RC, destroy the Hun this season.
Jackie&Maccy.CSC
And Breathe
9 points, I reckon, would mean we would progress.
The Big Man is the one who is in Control, He has never Relinquished it.
Leicester Won the EPL.
FFS.CSC :))
Start Screaming yer Heart Out – Every Game
I didn’t like sitting in the Centre seats – Awesome view of the game. No singing whatsoever. Nah that is not for me.
Come on the LL Upper.
We are on the Road again.
EFE?
PETEC
Dig a bit more on Yiannopolos. He is not one of the good guys.
I really liked this last night from the our esteemed Spanish correspondent :
“THE EXILED TIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2016 10:39 PM
Oh Dear, he disny play for Ecuador then, no wonder he is no playing, Doh”
Enables me to go off to the golf with a smile on my face 0:-)
Cheerio for now,
JJ
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 6:43 AM
PETEC
Dig a bit more on Yiannopolos. He is not one of the good guys.
==========================================
Have to disagree.
MACJAY
Nn problem,bud. Time will tell.
BOBBY,
I’m just jumping in to a conversation, I have said so much on CQN.
I couldn’t gie a feck about so much now.
Thankfully, I’m now participating in Family stuff more than any other Time, in a Long Time.
I’m Nothing now on CQN. That is Important.
Milo is a despicable cunt.
I tried to get Aidan to play Quake 3.
Anyone who has played the game knows the symbology is EVERY where.
Aidan had no interest whatsoever in playing the game, Aidan wasn’t confirmed.
The game has Satanic Symbology all through the Maps.
I professed that Jesus Died to take away My Sins.
;))
There is no subliminal stuff on CSGO – Unless I’m not Seeing it?
LOL
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday from a damp, half cloudy and breezy East Kilbride.
The deadline for signing up to take part in LAST MAN STANDING 8 is midnight tonight. Of all the cliques on here this is by far the best one!! ;-)
Just drop an email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com and me or CRC will get back to you later today with details of the rules, payment methods and first fixtures to choose from. Over 140 in it now and a prize fund well over £2K.
One or two on the night shift suggesting Aberdeen might do a Montrose and bottle it, apologising for daring to upset the huns and hmsm. If this were to happen, Milne would be as well booking a taxi. A sheepie in my work yesterday, once again emphasised his fellow fans’ hatred of thems by saying ‘we don’t like Celtic but we f&&n despise that mob. He gave me a long list of events/incidents going back twenty years, most unsurprisingly unreported and most on visits to Ibroke.. The sheep have shown the way, and remember, the two clubs in Scotland who’d certainly have ‘new club’ rammed down their throats by Rfc and their msm wing are us and Aberdeen. Of that there is no doubt.
While I acknowledge that my posts have caused much discomfort on this blog, part of the problem is that I have been unable for different reasons to post certain facts that I know would support my argument.
After Gordon 64 had verified the credentials of PapaJoe55 (with the effect of the pack dogs turning their venom elsewhere) it was no longer necessary for me to post; I had only posted in this last phase, to complain about the treatment that PapaJoe55 was subjected to in the early hours of Thursday morning.
I now have a clear view as to how I will try to resolve the situation. Any issues I have that the Resolution 12 joint project, involving the four requisitioners and the plc was compromised from the beginning will be addressed away from this blog, in private, (with any luck kept within the confines of the Celtic family and the plc itself) and will hopefully be resolved without undue delay.
There was one aspect of the issue that could have been resolved months ago however. The widespread suspicion of me being a troll could have been scotched by Canamalar. Even when the accusations were at their height, he could have confirmed my identity and put a stop to the ‘troll’ debate, and the accompanying venom and abuse directed mostly towards me, and more recently, and more disgracefully, towards PapaJoe55.
——
Brendan.You can turn difficulty into opportunity: Efe should be groomed c. TD67:) as a defensive mid. Could be a revelation. As could Jozo.
JAMES FORREST on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2016 10:26 AM
KILL ULTRA:
You speak as if we’ve talked before.
Which is odd, as we never have.
Not on here, anyway. But elsewhere? With you calling yourself something else?
Yes, I think so.
You’re busted mate.
————————
James Forrest
(JAMES FORREST on 31ST AUGUST 2016 11:29 PM)
Your smart-arsed comment (“Celtic board plant” (haha couldn’t resist) BRTH,…”) was way too late ; the debate had timed out, and the attack dogs you had hoped to join had gone home.
You didn’t address my reply, and the message behind my quote, “Contempt prior to examination is an intellectual vice, from which the greatest faculties of mind are not free.”- William Paley
Instead you deflect the issue to one of ‘dont I know you from somewhere…’
I haven’t called myself ‘something else’. We’ve never exchanged posts before. I’m not a regular poster, or blogger, or tweeted, ever. We might have met in person before, but if we have, I don’t remember.
I’ve explained (above) giving reasons why I don’t want any further debate on CQN. I’ll contact you privately, through your blog email. Feel free to bin it.
HH
Quake3
The Dragon is venerated
The Highest priced Gun.
The Dragon is Satan.
Everyone knows that of course.
petec on 2nd September 2016 5:23 am
The Pulpits are full of ……. Grrrrr, unless you got a hard hitting Priest/Pastor – Let me know as I’d go there every week.
______________________________________
Father Thaddeus Umaru in St Rochs up at the Garngad is a wonderful preacher – he tells it like it is! When he was at St Mary’s I always felt like applauding when he finished. A lovely man as well!
KTF
VFR800A8
We used to have a Priest like that,way back. Kinda. Felt like giving him a round of applause because he finished,rather than when(!)
kill ultra on 2nd September 2016 7:34 am
I offered a few days ago to meet you if that would help resolve issues; the offer still stands.
vfr800a8@me.com
KTF
KTF
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 2nd September 2016 8:06 am
VFR800A8
We used to have a Priest like that,way back. Kinda. Felt like giving him a round of applause because he finished,rather than when(!)
____________________________________
This guy is a proper orator and very easy to listen to. It’s not fire and brimstone but usually a very good take on a lot of the ills in modern society!
KTF
vfr800a8 on 2nd September 2016 7:59 am
Thank You.
petec on 2nd September 2016 8:08 am
vfr800a8 on 2nd September 2016 7:59 am
Thank You.
__________________________________________
My pleasure Pete!
KTF
Petec
Following on from VFr800a8
Fr Bergin at St Joseph’s in Blantyre. Is a great preacher
Was a Cistercian priest and teacher down in England before returning to Scotland after an serious illness