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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SPIDEY
If we don’t qualify for the CL groups next season,we will not be allowed any spend. Never are in such circumstances.
Seems qualification must be for two successive seasons or it disnae count,wur spending eff aw.
You heard it here first,naw you didnae. I just reminded you of it first.
Now you must raise our child with Cha Du Ri
Still looking for a spare ticket for the Rangers game for my son, North Curve if possible: vfr800a8@me.com
KTF
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:45 AM
Kill Ultra
“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.”
That’s not “part” of the problem. It is the whole problem.
You made the accusations- you labelled more than one of the requisitioners in ways designed to cause disappointment and anger.
If you are not able (yet or ever) to establish the grounds of your assertion then why make the assertion.
—–
SFTB. So, you’ve been holding the jackets, but now want to fight when the combatants have long gone back to bay at the moon, in concert, no doubt. If you read my recent post you’ll have seen where I said I wanted to move my concerns, accusations, call them what you want, away from the blog.
I also said in an earlier post, that you’ve obviously chosen to ignore, that I could have taken a lot of heat from myself if I made what I know publicly available. I’m not going to do that, as Celtic would suffer above all. That’s why any in-depth discussions will be in private.
_____________________________
At the moment your position reads as :- ” I can prove he (or they) is/are a wrong un’. Just you wait and see. In the meantime, just believe me and take me on trust”
Well, would you trust someone who’s position, as expressed was as flimsy as that?
——–
SFTB I’m not asking to be taken on trust. I was just trying to influence the blog opinion of one that has an overwhelming and prejudiced inbuilt pack mentality to a position of objectivity and open-mindedness, which apart from a few notable exceptions, I have seen nothing of.
______________________
The line has been expressed- Put up or Shut up!
The rest of us know that you made the accusation and traduced the reputation of, at least, one of the requisitioners. How will we know the resolution of your accusation if you are now going to have it “addressed in private”?.
——
SFTB. Your phrase, ‘The rest of us’ is telling. Are you the blog advocate? Don’t worry about reputations being traduced. What an irony! You want me to post openly on this blog and actually destroy reputations. The requisitioners will have a chance to speak for themselves, and I’ll shout the loudest in their vindication, if that’s how it turns out.
I’ve had personal experience of having been accused of very serious transgressions without being made aware of what exactly I’ve been accused of and I know the feeling. The difference here is that, the requisitioners, or some of them, have the evidence, so any lingering sympathy I may have had, has long since been dissolved. They could have addressed the issue privately with me instead of unleashing their attack dogs.
Finally, I’m in contact with someone, (a long-time Tim with a legal background) who I trust to be impartial. He knows I don’t want any undue delay. I think any futher blog discussion is unnecessary.
HH
We’ve got Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Johnstone chicken wings chicken wings.
av liked this site for years so a thought ad join and give ma opinions on all things celtic a can be the harshesed critic my punctuation and spelling is pish but am no taking a degree so no need to correct me on any that cheers lads and lassies
The LUBOquitous Chippy!
vfr800a8 on 2nd September 2016 10:35 am
Celtic have just posted that ST holders can buy one additional ticket for that fixture, subject to availability, if that helps. Not sure where/what the seats are like though!
HH
VFR800A8 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:58 AM
Hope to get over (back hame!) for Eurpopean tie.
I have your email address. Will get in touch nearer time.
Hail Hail
https://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FeZOKZWyCzx&h=vAQG0fKBx&enc=AZMN58_xW9OJ52eQVDB-SBOQ8DO7bj1lt7cGWuwnBmaZ8gNbl8Vo-Yma1PVqiXyN38aMSzJBVqrUC3Nh8Nw8FHVmHEQK9fYThwB0DYvtPQ0mp4_NY5Qd4fqZnFjGuxgqLctQpd8M3FK9GsDETaR6-pzj_DGB5japxbO4TDqto4w7LA&s=1
Anton Rogan Josh
knowing celtic the seats are probably in the vaults
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:48 AM
KILL ULTRA
Get yourself over to Gweedore for the weekend a wee Celtic festival going on for the foundation
———–
I’d like to climb Errigal Mountain. Who knows…I might get up there. HH
kill ultra on 2nd September 2016 10:42 am
VFR800A8 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:58 AM
Hope to get over (back hame!) for Eurpopean tie.
I have your email address. Will get in touch nearer time.
Hail Hail
___________________________________________
OK; I’m in the East End so we can catch up before the game.
KTF
Castlebhoy
Re Chester.
I’ve watched a few Celtic games here in the past.
http://www.stwerburghchester.co.uk/more-about-st-werburgh's/parish-centre.aspx
HH
..I’ve always hated kedgeree since the day that I was born
so I’m off to join the IRA and to eat a plate of quorn…
traditionalist88 on 2nd September 2016 10:41 am
Thanks; in the web queue now”
KTF
KillUltra
My nephew doing the climb for my dad who will be sipping Brandy Shandy
KILL ULTRA
I know GORDON64 reasonably well because of this site. A smashing big fella,as are his friends.
Big,that is(!)
I wasn’t on the blog when PAPAJOE55 was getting it in the neck for vouching for your background and being challenged,as a result,on his. Sleep time for night shift,etc.
Had I been,I would have contacted Gordon to make a simple post of verification of PJ’s creds,which he did.
And the whole situation became calm and cool and dandy. And loud were the hallelujahs btw.
What I don’t understand is your insistence on the worst kind of National Enquirer/Rita Skeeter innuendo. Personally I would be very careful about allegations-attributable to you,about someone who has a legal background.
Still,your call. I shall follow your career with interest.
Off to explain to an 84yo what his diagnosis means in layman’s terms. And tell him to go NHS instead of private if he needs to ask me for an explanation.
And no I’m not joking.
Vfr,
You’ll be lucky to get one through the club now.
I just clicked into it there and all I’m getting is the ol website busy message.
Good luck
HH
VFR
Can’t help, but you might maximise your chances by use of the definite article, as we can’t be playing Rangers as they’re dead.
No Previous League Meeting Found. ( Thanks, Aberdeen).
Let’s all not move on.
does any one know of anybody who travels to home games and passes through blairgowrie a ken the jfk bus fae perth just enquiring like
Morning Celts
VFR
My brother offered me a ticket a few days ago, which i refused.
I will catch him later, see if he has still got it.
If he has, i get back to you.
HH
ALMORE on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:35 AM
Top Ten Facility Demands For Fans at Celtic Park;
For those of us of a certain vintage who may have travelled a distance or may just require a ‘comfort stop’, there is no easy access to toilet facilities outside the stadium (KDS with a ‘doctor’s note’ awkward).
On obvious thing for those who visited Murrayfield Stadium is that the turnstiles are at the perimeter of the stadium grounds and once through you can access a large open area and all amenities e.g food, drink, stalls, toilets and your seat i.e ‘a fan area’.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016 8:55 AM
Fair play Tony. Happy to move on.
MWD
KIl Ultra
Forgive me as I have been absent from these pages over the summer (I can go for some time without being involved in anything CQN when other issues come calling).
Am I to understand that you think that the resolutioners sold the jerseys somewhere along the way and that I or someone else was a board “plant” tasked with scuppering or sidelining Res 12?
Have I got that right?
Also in a previous post I think you imply that you have evidence that this is so and that you are willing to disclose that in private. Is that so?
If that is the case would it be ok with you if I get the chance to hear and see what that evidence is and on what basis you reach any conclusions or draw any inferences?
By all means send me an e-mail to jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk and express your concerns , outline your beliefs and conclusions and what they are based on, and i will do my best to answer then as frankly as I can.
If there is anything I don’t want to answer for any reason I will tell you straight that is the case and I will also tell you why — although I cannot think of any such circumstances arising.
I am more than happy to communicate in this way with neither rancour nor ire.
For the avoidance of doubt I have no connection to anyone who works for or at Celtic PLC and no one within the PLC has any baring on my views or thinking on Res 12 or any other matter,
My views on all things are distinctly my own – daft or otherwise.
Cheers
BRTH
beatbhoy on 2nd September 2016 10:51 am
VFR
Can’t help, but you might maximise your chances by use of the definite article, as we can’t be playing Rangers as they’re dead.
No Previous League Meeting Found. ( Thanks, Aberdeen).
Let’s all not move on.
________________________________
See here for my views on it.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 2nd September 2016 10:57 am
Good man; thank you.
KTF
BRTH
One gracious gentleman.
BRT&H
Bring your solicitor. :@-)
MWD
Hot (Nail them by their baw’s to a) Cross Buns
If ye don’t have a zadok tone yer a hun. Aye BRTH, I mean you…………………………:_)
VFR
Already seen them and addressed them. But you didn’t reply.
Think you’re wrong and said so.
But stay safe on the day. Your bhoy too.
BRTH
Like your style.
BTW, tell Pedro, i am watching:)
HH
beatbhoy on 2nd September 2016 11:08 am
_______________________________________________________
Missed the post; can you refer me to it? Be interested to see the response.
KTF
Don’t see widespread reporting of Martin O’Neills comments regarding Celtic/Brendan in either the Scottish or Irish media, must be because they were overwhelmingly positive because if there was any negative comment you can be sure it’d be everywhere!
HH
I have a free class so speed_reading through the Top Ten Facility Demands For Fans at Celtic Park this is what I’ve gleaned:
1. Café by the Superstore
2. Celtic Museum
3. Decent food & service inside the stadium
4. Enough brown sauce for half-time pies after the first 5 gave been sold
5. A tannoy system that is audible
6. Mobile phone signal boosters
7. Clean the windows and surrounding area in the Jock Stein stand Food courts.
8. Give the passageways in the JS stand a lick of yellow paint and repair the green epideck surface which has seen better days.
9. Better policing of traffic when games are over.
Keep them coming!
Looks like we will be playing the puns for the next week or so.
BRTH
What kind of plant are you anyway?
An ever green?