The No. 1 rule of the transfer window is: get your first choices, and there is no doubt that Ronny Deila wanted Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven. We’ve tracked them for months, Ronny will have watched both players many times, John Collins will have watched them more often, and the entire scouting team will have watched them dozens of times, so on that basis alone, I’m happy.
I spoke to someone at the club early last month and there was some concern that some of our key players would ‘Do a Kelvin’, and present as not in the right frame of mind to play, unless we agreed to a transfer. While we are still competing in four competitions this was a major worry, but those players who were wanted elsewhere were happy to get their heads down and work to the spirit as well as the letter of their contracts. Happy at this too.
Stuart Armstrong is every inch a Ronny Deila player. He can run all day, gets into the box to support – or go beyond – strikers, and closes space in front of the defence. He will allow us to play to plan a lot oftener.
Last summer’s window was characterised by the signing of wingers. Wakaso, Inge Berget and Tonev all arrived on loan, while Callum McGregor emerged as a first team contender on his return from loan, and during the early season outshone all of them. None of these players are now considered as first choice, nor is Derk Boerrigter, who was recruited from Ajax 18 months ago and has proven every adage that ever existed for oft-injured players.
So we’re not short of wingers, but we need good ones, and Gary Mackay-Steven is another known quantity. He is fast, skilful, and will lend a creative hand to Kris Commons, who had shouldered those duties alone for years.
I’ve no proper information on Michael Duffy, who joined the development squad from Derry City.
To paraphrase Neil Lennon, this is only the beginning. Of the 10 outfield players who started at Hampden on Sunday, only one was a Ronny Deila signing, the rest were recruited by one of his predecessors. The summer transfer window was overwhelmingly misconceived, as the regime change cast a shadow over processes. As well as the wasteful wingers, two strikers were signed, neither of whom could dislodge last January’s late stocking filler, Leigh Griffiths.
Mackay-Steven and Armstrong will both make an impact at Celtic, but it will take more than a couple of players to craft the squad into the image of Ronny. More work will be needed in the summer.
Hibs, Hearts, Queen of the South, Ross County, St Mirren, Motherwell, and the SFA will all be alarmed at the flagrant influence Mike Ashley exercised at newco Rangers yesterday, despite his written agreement not to get involved. While the SFA must react accordingly, I’m not sure five players whose appearances are measured in minutes, not games, are ready for a promotion fight. It can take good player months to settle into a new team, and the potential for disruption, especially if the ‘manager’ didn’t play an active role in the process, is considerable.
The upside for newco is that these players settle quickly, take a Premiership place off Hibs, Queens, Motherwell or St Mirren, and leave a lot of clubs wondering what the point of having rules in the first place is. The only appropriate sanction the SFA can levy is a player registration ban, which would be the club’s second in their short history. Clearly a one year ban is not long enough to teach them a lesson.
Whatever you think of Ashley, you have to admire him:
On the last day of the window, he has 5 unwanted Newcastle players he is unable to loan to anyone else.
Realising he had no takers, he sends them to Ibrox, easing the Newcastle payroll.
Newco pay the players with Ashley’s loan, which they still have to pay back. If his men are kicked out at an EGM, these loans mean the new regime have even more money to find. It’s almost as though he wants to burn through the entire £10m loan before the EGM, leaving a new regime with an empty bank account and crippling debt.
It is a thing of Machiavellian beauty. Hibs and the rest are right to be upset, and Stewart Regan will feel humiliated, but I find the whole episode hilarious.
Welcome to Celtic, Gary, Stuart and Michael.
Well done Celtic on a productive transfer window. As always, it’s too early to tell how well we’ve done, but the perennial adage of leaving the window stronger than we went into it seems assured. Well done Mike too, keep up the good work.
Start your League Cup final weekend at the CQN11 St Patrick’s Dinner, at the Kerrydale Suite, Celtic Park, on Friday 11 March. Email me for details, celticquicknews@gmail.com
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excathedra44
My doctor offered me counselling etc which may we’ll have been wise but wasn’t for me personally.
I remember him saying that it would be a valuable experience and at least I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
His face was a picture when I told him I would :-)
I wouldn’t mind a wee word with the other Tim though!
Lennybhoy
No but I know what it’s about, BT text me mate.
hamiltontim,
A close call, I wasn’t so lucky, only six stitches and lucky I didn’t lose an eye.
That was only the one of a few.
Got your mobile number of BT, if you are looking for away tickets in the future. I can help.HH
Thinking about coincidences.What about the ice rink at Ibokes against Hearts?
A better team than the New Club, despite under soil heating… Match abandoned.
Couple of weeks later, against a better team, Hampden resembles a field ploughed for spuds.
There’s a lot of odd things surrounding Newco.
sipsini
20:08 on 3 February, 2015
And talk of the Devil…:) and I gave you his number as well…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Feeding time over.
acgr
I apologise for not replying to your email, but I did answer you on here. Hope you read it. Love you kiddo, in a buddy kind of way. Take care “M”.
When is this fkn freezing weather gonna end, sick to the back teeth (ok, dentures) of it, our hens haven’t laid for over a week. That’s the problem with REAL free range hens.
Anyhoos, I am a Celtic Supporter and loving every minute of being one, who else feels the same??? KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
BGX
19:03 on 3 February, 2015
Honestly …this site….no wonder the Huns call us the Offended…You know what, if you have a wife or a girlfriend and you go through her phone or email, chances are you will find something you dont like
==============================
I took your advice. Now I have a couple of questions for the missus – like, who is this guy ‘Leroy’, and going by the pictures he must work in the snake house at Edinburgh Zoo.
Hang on…
HT, pedro67 assures me Im fixed for the ticket.
Fanx
clogher celt
20:10 on 3 February, 2015
There’s a lot of odd things surrounding Newco.
—————-
My friend that may be the understatement of the century !
delaneys dunky
Correct. As it transpires!
Lennybhoy
There were flagrant inaccuracies at the start, towards the end and throughout much of the main body of the post.
I shoulda been a journo!
;-)
HT
I ended up with stitches after asking a lady on a train if she could sing Bob marley rather than the billy Boys, courtesy of her brother and father.
It changes you. I’m now fearful I wouldn’t stop hitting soon enough if I was in a fight.
HH jamesgang
HT
I have had a few similar experiences over the years, and always heavily outnumbered by thems. I have been close to being hospitalised twice. I believe my Guardian Angel or amazing luck, saved my life. Rolling under a parked car that the fat hun attackers couldnae fit under saved my bacon the last time. :)
DD
I’ll give you 1 guess where mrsweefra comes from, and I bet you get it correct??? :-))) Nae real worries if ye get it wrang. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
weefrathetim
20:12 on 3 February, 2015
Feeding time over.
acgr
——-
There you have it. Weefra now feeds acgr!
The roaster’s become a rooster!
HH jamesgang
Aghhhhha
jamesgang comes on at the wrong time, he knows where the mrs comes from. Hahahahaha
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
jamesgang
You’re awe I need. Hahahaha. Hope you’re well kiddo and looking forward to our re-union at CP. Take care on your travels big yin. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
glasstwothirdsfull
19:15 on 3 February, 2015call_of_juarez18:57 on 3 February, 2015Don’t think I have heard a Celtic player say “transpired” during a presser before. Looks to me that SA is too intelligent for our team:-)—————-Think Charlie Nicholas might have said it after a training session in really hot weather…..
Made me laugh there…
Weefra
GMS is from Thurso. SA is from Inverness. Bet Mrs W is from the latter.
jamesgang
20:13 on 3 February, 2015
You ask me sing any Bob Marley song mate I will sing you a whole Album…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
ACGR-You back fae Dubai,how you get on?
Sandman..
Brilliant mate….laughing..
bada
Did oor Charlie not say on SSN that, correct if I’m wrong, that rangers should “throw down the goblet” to meet the challenge of Celtic? If not, I stand corrected. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
DD
Yip, got it in one. How you buddy? A happy Tim I am tonight. KTF. :-))))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
roy croppie
18:42 on
3 February, 2015
ExSlaemuirBhoy
Ben Arfa’s move to Nice from Newcastle got knocked back due to this by FIFA I think. I’m not sure if the SFA count U’21 games, that might be a loop-hole.
HH
—————
thats a lot of cobblers
DD
In fact, Drumnadrochet on the banks of the Loch. Do you want to know a secret, since I married the mrs, Nessie has never been spotted. Hahaha. Strange, but true. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Weefra
Work finished. Boots aff, feet up! Happy Tim here too!
Great to see Ronny being allowed to build his team. The future is a blinding Green & White! Happy Days. :))
Had my nose broken (you couldnae miss it!), and nearly lost an eye in a few football related stramashes in my time.
Always involving the follow followers of a particular, now dead, club.
Lovely peepul.
HH!!
Saint stivs
SFA don’t recognise u21 games re transfer
Just as well….save either ignoring or changing the rules :-))
Big day for the newco 2morrow,…dave king to outlaw.oops..outline his plans…hear that ..thats mike ashley laughing….
saint stivs
thanks for your input very enlightening..
Maybe Stuart Armstrong is the new Paul McBride?
Weefra
If Mrs Weefra lurks you are in trouble!!!
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
FFS you’re eight foot tall
weefrathetim
20:31 on 3 February, 2015
DD
In fact, Drumnadrochet on the banks of the Loch. Do you want to know a secret, since I married the mrs, Nessie has never been spotted. Hahaha. Strange, but true. :-)))
————–
That is weird, cos, since I married mrs PC67, Victor’s blind date fae still game hasnae been seen either :-)
Is Stuart Armstrong the most intelligent Celtic player since Brian McClair?
HH!!
Weefra
Nessie is a myth. A bit like continuity Rangers.
Pfayr
Blindsided big guy.
And didn’t know a good lawyer.
Then! Not now!
HH jamesgang
Pedro
I’m away to light a candle in your memory!
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
Aye, forgot she lurks…..
Ye better make it wan o they big Easter candles :-)
I’m deed.