Celtic were looking for a right back throughout the second half of last term, but in the early weeks of his tenure, Brendan considered Mikael Lustig and Saidy Janko sufficient for the season ahead. Mikael is four years into a successful Celtic career but his fitness issues are of a persistent nature. We’ve reached Peak Swede.
Saidy missed lot of last season, also through injury, but he showed potential in his early outing this term. Aspirations for the lad crystallised in Israel last week, but not in a good way. I’m not going to defend him, because he was unquestionably poor, but agreement only exists on his poor showing because he was prepared to receive the ball so often. Not everyone in black that night was as keen to get on the end of a pass.
That opened the door for Cristian Gamboa, 26, second choice right back for West Brom. We’re very keen, apparently. West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, is less in need of a full back whose key attribute is getting forward at speed. Horses for course, I suppose, West Brom face different challenges than Celtic.
Two rumours have circulated this week: Celtic are looking for a midfield player and James McCarthy’s position at Everton is less secure than it was a year ago. Whoever has been linking these two facts has overreached – or made them up. Celtic have no idea where this one came from but were clear, there’s nothing in it. Getting the right midfielder remains a task in hand, but usual caveats apply. There are no guarantees we’ll land all our targets this summer.
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IMHO we will not have the squad Brendan wants until this time next year.When he came in there was far too many players but a need to add more to enhance quality which,to completely overhaul effectively,would take more than one window.
So far the signings brought in have improved us,meanwhile the squad has been trimmed with our outgoings ergo we are better off than at the start of the window.
Like everybody else,I would love another couple (at least) of signings but am prepared to let Brendan get on with it in the belief he’ll get it right.It’ll just take longer than this window.
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Not too fussed by Simunovic leaving. From the few games he played for us he didn’t look too convincing. I had hoped he would put his injuries behind him and go on to be a decent signing for us, however, I have to admit I was always worried we had bought a turkey. From some reason it sticks in my head, him getting outmuscled last season by O’Halloran at the byline who then squared it for St Johnstone equalise at Parkhead, it was weak and poor defending.
I have more impressed by Sviatchenko and O’Connell. Hopefully means O’Connell will feature more.
Fingers crossed for defensive midfielder, if Brown gets injured we have absolutely no steel and aggression in there.
For the hard of thinking I would still like a defensive midfielder but I think Eric the Viking could perform that role admirably.
BrendanbeauCsc
SoT …. it was the one I struggled most with in making that list …. and, as a 50 year old guy, would I rate it as highly? Absolutely not…. but, as a young teenager, thinking of being the next Paul Weller, it was great. So, for sort of sentimental and personal reasons, I threw it in there.
and as for the film … much like the G3 … we never speak of it!
Simunovic will be no great loss. Always thought he was average and slow.
Hopefully Ambrose away to Reading as well. Let’s see what we get by tomorrow evening.
The fee #Celtic paid for Cristian Gamboa is £400,000 with a 20% sell on clause
#SPFL
Thom the Thom
“Good job nobody reads my posts, or else I’d be embarrassed!!”
You’re definitely a ‘ must read’ for at least one cqn’er!
POGUES1967 on 30TH AUGUST 2016 3:54 PM
Would love to see an early 30’s centre mid – bullish, good passer – rock hard can read the game… we know the kind…… and I don’t think we have one.
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We’re too late; you’ve just described the self-proclaimed “best midfielder in Scotland” and he went to Ibrox – Mr Joey Barton.
We’ll see on the 10th, eh?
:>)
KTF
I read somewhere that we have an agreement with Man City for 2 loans this season. Is this true?
Maybe we’ll get Denayer back
Lustig has played in a back 3 and CH this year. Lustig, Sviatchenko, Kolo, O’Connell, Boyata,
Not mention Efe :-O
We don’t need any more centre halfs. Jozo is enjoying that same glow and reputation enhancement every Celtic player who is not in the team gets. Maybe a diamond, maybe not, but dodgy knees and centre halfs are a terrible mix and odds we can’t play at £4m.
Now the odds we are playing at the striker position, that IS silly.
Freedom of Information reply from the BBC – they have never used Level 5 PR.
GEORDIE
More interested now in who we sign, not players that want to move on, we’ll never know if Jozo was as good as some think.
I also don’t care about net spend, as I saw a much better Celtic side at the weekend than what I saw last season.
HowDidThatHappen CSC
Has Gamboa signed ?
Got word for Mr Strutter in the 545 at Ripon
Maybe it’s just me but I reckon a lot of the posts on here are about 30 hours early. The window closes tomorrow night and so far we have brought in Kolo Toure, Mousa Dembele, Scott Sinclair, Dorus De Vries and Cristain Gamboa.
Simunovic and Johansen haven’t featured at all this season. Mulgrew turned down a deal. Fisher surplus to requirements as well and a fair few out on loan. Looks not too bad so far.
A good solid midfielder and IMHO it would be a good window. The negativity, if required, should be for after the window closes, not just another opportunity to have a pop at Peter Lawwell. Let’s see the final picture first, eh?
KTF
David Marshall off to Hull for £3m.
Good luck to him. All my life since the days of the Lions-Ally Hunter excepted,briefly-I waited for a great Celtic keeper.
In Marshall,I thought we had him. His performance with John Kennedy v Barcelona in 2004 is just legendary.
That’s half our spine for the future,I thought.
A few weeks later,John was criminally crocked. David Marshall wasn’t rated as highly by his managers as by me(!)and he moved on.
Decent career,now the EPL.
GOOD LUCK,SON!!!!
Bhoys
It’s not the net spend that’s important, but the net quality.
In this window, the quality has increased dramatically.
If it also happens to be done at a net profit, well done Celtic. Financial brilliance.
Put it this way, if someone makes last hour bids for GMS, Armstrong and Janko, and we end up another £1m plus into profit, we should be acclaiming the achievement.
( not that I’ll get many in agreement I suspect:-)
TICKETS are on sale now to Special Season Ticket holders who are looking to see the Champions take on Rangers at Celtic Park on Saturday, September 10 (KO: 12 noon).
This includes Special Season Tickets in areas 115 to 118 in the Lower Tier of the Lisbon Lions Stand and those Special Season Tickets in 416 to 419 in the Upper Tier of the Lisbon Lions Stand.
Tickets for this match are available priced as follows:
Adults – £49
Students/65+ – £40
Concessions – £30
Subject to availability, the deadline for Special Season Ticket holders to purchase tickets for the match is 5pm on Thursday, September 1. One per client ref.
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So there are concession prices available. I wonder if it will go to General sale.
KTF
TWISTS N TURNS on 30TH AUGUST 2016 4:38 PM
Agree with your points and about GMS and Armstrong but not Janko. I still think there is a player in there.
KTF
BMCUW
MON sold him, and he was an expert on goal keepers.
Gk – sorted for time being
RB – ditto
LB – if Izzy stays we are ok but a position to monitor through the year
CB – we are covered for the time being. Next summer may require additions
Wings/ wide men – tick.
Centre forward – I would like another. Maybe not this window unless it’s the right man.
Midfield – this is the key for me. An extra quality game aware strong puller and defence protector and we would be set
That’s my take on the squad. Saved BR a load of work obviously… No need to thank me.
VFR800A8
I still like Janko
RunsForCover CSC
Lot of fine books mentioned today. A lot I haven’t heard of, never mind read. A lot too I have forgotten.
I think I would rather say I have favourite authors, like Dickens, Anthony Burgess, Robert Harris and C J Sansom.
I may well be wrong but I feel that you can’t really do full justice to a book when it is a translation, although I did really enjoy Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose. I presume it is even better in Italian and Latin.
Think Simunovic is a crock – got out of that one fine if the transfer goes through
WHAT IS THE STARS
Yes
VFR
You could be right bud, just my opinion . ( though I was the man who watched the likes of Henk, Paul Elliot, and was looking for the head of the man who signed them:-)
On their debuts I should add!
BSR – didn’t Marshall play against Artmedia under Gordon Strachan?
BSR
It was Strachan that let him go.
How on earth does Jim Whyte keep the job on sky? Useless.
Sorry DOH
MON preferred Rab
BMCUW, Ally Hunter was never the same after he clattered the post playing for Scotland against England. I had great hopes for him (to the extent my mum and dad bought me a green goalie’s jersey!)
BSR – re Janko, that makes two of us, see you in the bomb shelter bud. A good coach should be able to make a decent player out of Saidy.
Simunovic would never have passed a Sevco medical….
VFR800A8@4:37 ….
I trust you you understand that I mean no disrespect to you when I say that, for me, your post makes all of the other posts irrelevant. I am referring to the ad, not you personally.
If our club is merchandising sevco as R*****s (and that is how they our described on the Celtic website – I just c hecked) then, for me, those running ‘our club’ have sold not only its soul, but they have sold out the fans as well.
Glad now that I didn’t give that shower any money this year.
No assaults or sectarian singing then:
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=1&newsID=16468
twists n turns on 30th August 2016 4:38 pm
Spot on – and in a real position of strength come the January window.
Quality over quantity. Given the size of squad we had that meant a lot of casualties, some of whom are still here.
HH
PCS
Does that go for the bible too ? ;-))
I’m joining VFR,BOURNE & FIELD…Saidy can still be a player for us.And he disnae hide.
Im not sure how anyone can form an opinion on Jozo, i certainly can’t not having seen enough of him. If the rumours are true and he is leaving good luck to him. I honestly forgot all about him when Erik entered the frame. A few have mentioned young O’Connell who I think is a definite talent and could possibly be a regular sooner rather than later. He also has what Brendan likes, ability to play the ball rather than punt it all the time.
HH
gsu