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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Timing timing
TD67
Oh..you are Mr Entertainment now,…ya auld cabbage:)
Crack a joke ffs….a real one
HH
Hey guys
I try to stay out of heavy discussons on CQN, but feel I have to weigh in on this one.
I find that hard to believe that, in today’s world, someone would not understand the connotation behind the term ‘grooming’. Particularly as it is one the zombies like to use about Celtic. However, if TD says that he did not, then we have to take him at his word.
But they way in which it was used were too closely connected to those connotations, even if that was not the intention. And those connotations are frankly unspeakable. And there can be no doubt that he now has been made aware of those connotations.
I know this is a blog, and the rules are relaxed, but, for me, basic decency says some issues and words shouldn’t be bandied about, the subject of joking or used to score points. That word, and the subject it connotes, is one of those.
I dont know TD, and he and I have sometimes disagreed, but this isn’t about that. Others say he is a decent Celtic supporter.
So I would ask TD, as a decent Celtic supporter, if he wants to continue to make his point about the GB, fine .. but please find another word to use. This blog is better than that word.
It all in the delivery :))
True…….and I think part of the reason for falling out on here is that posts do not have facial expressions.
Cheerio for now.
JJ
Saint Michael of Toronto
Great post. Hopefully it is heeded.
TD67
Resign from the blog
You are just a auld crabbit troublemaker on CQN:)
Man up and apologize to the GB and the blog.
Its the least you can do
HH
MiT
What do you think of my point @ 3.19 ?
<a title="rANGERs” href=”https://abload.de/img/screenshot2016-08-31ajrrx8.png”>rANGERs
bournesouprecipe on 1st September 2016 3:49 pm
rANGERs
———————————————————————-
Totally agree mate…
TD67
You have just enforced my point about you there with your last post to me.
Now man up. I’ve lead the way and guided you.
MWD
Oops
rANGERs
Oops. 3:17
Just seen on SSN the team finishing bottom of the EPL this season will he £100million. Totally obscene.
Hail! Hail!
Will get
Just finished watching Countdown.
Didny realise it was a word and numbers game.
Hot Smoked…
Re: your point at 3:17, I would say that some words that once were acceptable may no longer be. The N word, for example.
But, more to the point, I am not judging or calling into question any Poster. I am not suggesting that any POSTER be abhorred; rather, I am questioning the word used by the poster. Big difference.
Straight No Chaser.?
A gem of an Lp by the great Thelonius Monk..Released the year before Celtic won the European Cup.Loved it then ,love it now.
Also the title of a great music magazine .Sadly no more.I mourn its’ passing.Celtic supporter Nick Peacock was a contributor .
The Sevco Chihuahua
BSR…
You sir are a lighted candle. HH
Doing my Kissinger now, let be said what has been said. This is not a hun blog far too much intelligence on here.
Now children, let’s get back to the topics in question… How was the transfer window for us and not the deadline and how much will we pump the huns by?
The Battered Bunnet 1:59
Interesting post.
Agree about BM – they are a more than decent side. Have seen some posts saying third place will come down to the two games v them. Not sure I agree with this.
I reckon we will probably each win the home game, so it will be down to who can pick up any/most points in the four games v the big two.
Sadly I think that is more likely to be them. They are more accustomed to these types of game by playing the likes of Bayern and Dortmund and have developed a very good counter-attacking game.
Don’t think 4-1-4-1 is the way to go. One up front has failed us time and time again. Unless you have a Drogba who can occupy three defenders, the ball just doesn’t stick.
4-3-3 playing in a compressed area, with the three breaking as a unit.
The RK transfer window was to shore up a bad tactical decision. Anton Mhor, as I recall.
Let hope that ThIs transfer window is more about strategy.
Hail the change……
Wee Rachel
Countdown CSC
MIKE IN TORONTO
I’v no problem with your post, you have a problem with my posts? I have no problem with that either. If there’s a problem with my posts, I suggest you take it to the owner of the blog, and I’m sure he will deal with it as he sees fit.
No one, I’ll repeat that NO ONE tells me what not to do in here accept P 67, so I suggest you all e mail him, and let’s see where it goes from there.? Sound good?
G2/3rds
That’s essentially the same shape as I suggested.
Against Barca and City, when defending, your wide players will be directly in front of (and sometimes behind) their own fullback, leaving one guy at point. Only issue thereafter is how you shape your 3 in the middle.
You didn’t see that coming?
TD67
Do the decent thing and apologize.
Only issue thereafter is how you shape your 3 in the middle.
=============
A square would be good ;)
HH
TD67
you keep digging that hole you’ll soon be sitting having your breakfast with your pal Macjay.
Man up.
MWD
HE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2016 4:08 PM
TD67
Do the decent thing and apologize.
What? Like James Forrest did today? Away an play wi the traffic.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2016 3:28 PM
I have to say I was sceptical when I saw it was a chihuahua defying the laws of gravity
I might have been more inclined to believe a poltergeist was responsible if it had been a rottweiller.
MWD
I’v told you talk to the man.
TD …. okay. Will do.
Robinbhoy 1.47
Read Paul 67’s article.
He is stating that that story is a lot of pish .
He left before the penalties were taken ,and therefore wasn’t rubbed up by the directors .
Who also didn’t misbehave anyway.
If you know better ,take it up with Paul 67.
TT
TD67
Man up
MWD
TD67
I do think you owe the GB and the blog an apology.
Dont you?
And what if I’d prefer to play with traffic. can i do that to?
MWD
NTO on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2016 4:13 PM
TD …. okay. Will
Good man TY.
Borussia Munchengladbach?
Watched both of last season’s CL Group games v Juventus.2 draws .1-1.0-0..Gave as good as they got.Very good team.Weren’t intimidated by Juve..