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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Look I just want to apologise for whats been said of late, can’t we all just get long?
Lurking huns, level 5 helpers and SMSM GIRFUY!!!!
Traveling away from the stadium by car is a joke.
A £700m M74 extension and completely inadequate access to both Polmadie and London Road slip roads.
Just gridlock and red lights with the police looking for payment from Celtic to deal with it.
cv
*’Nduja
Obvs
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:49 AM
MACJAY
Come off it,they’ve got a short enough working week as it is!
Which I know not to be true,btw. I was friendly with the local CoE vicar,she stayed at the end of my road till she retired last year. She worked more than I did.
============================================================
Not in dispute.
It`s the 20 minutes trying not to yawn I`m talking about.
kill ultra on 2nd September 2016 8:45 am
And I replied by asking where you were situated. If it’s a place or area convenient to me I would be happy to meet you. I’ve already offered to meet posters Clogher Celt and An Tearmann , because I’d assumed, rightly or wrongly, that they live here in Ireland.
___________________________________
Apologies, I missed the post. I am Glasgow based and unlikely to be in Cavan in the foreseeable future. Do you travel over for the games?
KTF
TALLYBHOY
Keep yer delicacies,man. We are discussing stomach churners here.
We’re actually board plants,here to foil ALMORE,et al,and make them grateful for the slop,sorry,delicacies served on match day.
But sausages is it? How about Andouillette? Jee-zoh,whose idea was that?
The Battered Bunnet on 2nd September 2016 8:52 am
Vegatarian? Presumably like big Ramon…
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That’s a good idea – get a Swiss/Japanese stall:
Ramen Vega…
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Andouillette? I was just sick in my mouth a little bit there.
Can you believe that the French have a society for the appreciation of that crap (literally crap).
BMCUW
The Calabrian sausage I mentioned is mental!
Stuffed with horrendously ‘hot’ chillies, it’s not for ‘fearties’!
HH!!
TONYDONNELLY
No offence,but you threw back plenty of reasonable requests not to use that term,and referred to many of us as lurking huns and level 5 plants.
I’ve no issue with your opinion of me. And in future I’ll have no comment on the rest of your opinions.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 2nd September 2016 8:52 am
VFR800A8 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:25 AM
You kidding ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iW2_Ec3uEU
===============================================
Bowie also destroyed another original.
Sorrow.
__________________________________________
Just alternative versions Macjay. Pin Ups is a nod to his yoof in The Smoke and I think it’s a fine album! Even the Floyd and Who covers are successfuls.
KTF
TALLYBHOY
I’m in!
Italian deli just up the road from my imminent destination-late on parade already.
Good Morning.
The Celtic Charity Foundation Winter Appeal includes a charity sleepout at Celtic Park on 12th November.
The sleepout is part of a series of programmes which will go to help the poor and the needy – particularly those that are homeless.
There is still time to sign up to the event if you want to participate and you can do that by simply clicking on the Celtic Charity Foundation website and going into “Events”.
If you can’t join in why not support one of us who are going to sleep out in furtherance of a really good cause which will make a difference.
Hamilton Tim and Mynx are participating as am I.
My donation page can be found here:
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jamesmcginley2
Thanks.
BRTH
TONYDONNELLY67 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:55 AM
No problem with me ,mate.
I agree with most of what you say in any case.
Not that that should be the criterion for getting on.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 2nd September 2016 8:55 am
Look I just want to apologise for whats been said of late, can’t we all just get long?
____________________
I will take that in the spirit that it’s intended.
Thank you.
KTF
VFR800A8 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 9:03 AM
You`re right.
Music is in the ear of the listener.
:-)
KILL ULTRA:
I wasn’t in the least bit interested in “attack dogs” joining me. My comment was an expression of contempt though, y ou’ve got that right on the money.
And you don’t have to worry about my, as you put it, “contempt without examination” either.
Your problem is that my contempt comes after a great deal of examination. Of your comments and those of a few “other people”, although I strongly suspect there’s more linking you all than just an obsession with discrediting the hard work a few of my friends have done.
And let me tell you something else; I ain’t gonna be terribly impressed if it turns out you’ve met a couple of guys from here on a night out or something either. To establish genuine bona fides is gonna be a lot tougher than that, and certain of us will continue to view you with high suspicion.
But as for your overall plan to “move on” and take this debate off the blog, I’d applaud it more if I didn’t know that it was little more than an admission of defeat. If you had hoped to pique the interest of fans and others in your conspiracy theory guess what? Epic fail.
What you did do is pique interest in YOU and your motives.
Not the same thing though, is it?
So to me, this looks a lot like beating a hasty retreat … but I’m sure you’ll be back.
In some guise or another, you’ll be back.
Until then , adieu.
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:49 AM
Celtic Park food ideas…
Who was it, which sublime comedic mind, suggested the vegatarian kiosk:
Trevelyan’s Quorn
Best line of the year.
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Not one for self-promotion – ahem! – but that was mine. :-)))
Tipping more towards ridiculous though..
Kill Ultra, have you no goat a ZTP ringtone ya hun?
I’ve got seven million left if you fancy one.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:54 AM
The Battered Bunnet
How about a cheese stall: Back Home in Dairy?
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Tee-hee! Here we go again…!
Tallybhoy
Need to add those sausages to my list
BMCUW
Have a look at this.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/8761002/Nduja-the-fiery-pork-paste-from-Calabria.html
HH!!
Jam!
coming soon to a kiosk near you.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on 2nd September 2016 9:18 am
Tallybhoy
Need to add those sausages to my list
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Your best bet is Carluccio’s (deli section). Comes in a jar (not as weird as it sounds).
NatKnow on 2nd September 2016 9:17 am
DAVIDOPOULOS on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:54 AM
The Battered Bunnet
How about a cheese stall: Back Home in Dairy?
————————————-
Tee-hee! Here we go again…!
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And there was me hoping to get some work done…
– Soup stall: Rising of the Spoon
– Sweets: Follow Me Up to Mallow
– Hot pots: The Foggy Stew
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby on 2nd September 2016 9:20 am
Jam!
coming soon to a kiosk near you.
______________________________
Excellent!
KTF
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby on 2nd September 2016 9:20 am
Jam!
coming soon to a kiosk near you.
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PMSL!
Wok-on Wok-all would be my suggestion for a Chinese/Celtic stir fry franchise.
Could be placed next to the Indian – Pakora Beghorra!
..
Jeez this place has went downhill..
I remember when You got posts deleted for mentioning Square Sausage..
Now..
You are all Arty Farty Pea Soupers Now..
Summa of BlazingSaddlesCSC
NatKnow on 2nd September 2016 9:25 am
Wok-on Wok-all would be my suggestion for a Chinese/Celtic stir fry franchise.
Could be placed next to the Indian – Pakora Beghorra!
__________________________
Served by Mr Letthepeople Singh.
KTF
VFR800A8 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 9:30 AM
NatKnow on 2nd September 2016 9:25 am
Wok-on Wok-all would be my suggestion for a Chinese/Celtic stir fry franchise.
Could be placed next to the Indian – Pakora Beghorra!
__________________________
Served by Mr Letthepeople Singh.
KTF
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Excellent!
All welcome into the CQN Pun Clique..!
:-)))
VFR
Enjoyed that,cheers,you’ll be changing your name to Lambretta ;)
Davidopoulos
;)
HH
The Boys of The Old Brigidino .
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 9:44 AM
The Boys of The Old Brigidino .
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Niche! I had to look that one up…
Noun
brigidino m (plural brigidini)
(desserts) A very thin, crispy aniseed wafer produced in the Pistoia area.
:-)))))))))))))))
Morning Bhoys good to see peace has broken out long may it last.For your Celtic fix Celtic under 20s are playing Livingston on Saturday with a 5.15 kick off should be a good game. H.H.
Would you get a Broad Black Pudding at any of these Celtic Park catering outlets? :)
Glorious Balance Sheet
Lol lol belter!
THE GLORIOUS BALANCE SHEET on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 9:47 AM
Would you get a Broad Black Pudding at any of these Celtic Park catering outlets? :)
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LOL! Nice one..! :-)))