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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http://videocelts.com/2015/02/blogs/incredible-video-coverage-of-celtics-hampden-victory?
I have been advised that the attack outside pub in Newarthill (which was vicious and unprovoked) was not football related and I’m sure that will come out eventually , albeit too late for anyone to take any notice.
Irresponsible reporters putting words in people’s mouths is not a rare thing sadly.
Morning, a chilly -6 here in darkest Lanarkshire, still hate scraping car windscreens.
anyway, still looking for a ticket for Inter game….any chance? Any spare?
Talk about hero’s
TransAsia pilot saving lives of people on ground.
http://www.airlive.net/2015/02/breaking-new-video-shows-close-up-of.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&m=1
God rest the souls of those on board.
MWD
There are still tickets available on the official Celtic site
Wee Gillian Smart looking rather well there, reading the weather on shortbread-tv.
Btw, where is CQN’s weather man?
Did ole Michael Gambon gie him a rub-doon wi a bowl of cauld porridge?
Tight-rippers Quick News
Pussy-galore Quick News
Texty-clique Quick News
Bring back the Jungle and, ye’ll bring back the Sellic
The flags of The Singing Detective and his ghreat Amigo
King Kojo and any other clique-cage-rattlers, fly high and
proud on the ole Jungle roof.
Hohohoho…Hehehehehe…Hahahaha(Joker-voice)
Looking for some advice from all you wise and wordly ones…..
I need a replacement seatbelt for my works vehicle, a Toyota Hilux, after the dog decided to chew it yeterday.
Been quoted around £90 which nearly made me fall into the dog bed!
Any ideas?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
twists n turns
04:55 on 4 February, 2015
http://videocelts.com/2015/02/blogs/incredible-video-coverage-of-celtics-hampden-victory?
_________________________________________________________________________
I hope ye dont mind a re-post fella? – Hail Hail
Guid to see some footage that includes Celtic fans…Celtic should ban the anti-Celtic BBC Scotland in it’s entirity – imho
Anyway…bed time…Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
For Ashley ‘ s involvement in TRFC here is a Newcastle view?
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mike-ashleys-dual-involvement-newcastle-8572998
Author cannot understand Scottish clubs accepting this.
He is right Not having rules to prevent loading the dice does not mean it’s ok to load the dice.
Clubs could call for EGG to put in a limiter on loans from same club.
It’s not exactly a difficult clause to insert.
-4 West of the airport. Underneath the bridge.
Clear.
Spectacularly bright moon setting.
Twisty
Brilliant footage.
MWD said AYE
Weefraetim
The failure to qualify was down to a number of factors but number 1 on the list was NL going and RD coming in.
It’s all about smooth transition and we did not have that. A couple of signings last winter like Armstrong and GMS might have helped at least that lesson seems to have been learned.
They are not needed to win the title so if all that matters is saving money why not wait until the summer?
Then there is match fitness. Lack of it puts Scottish clubs at a disadvantage. Why not adjust the seasons?
Both a manager leaving and season change are outside Celtic’s control.
Planning ahead isn’t.
I hope Celtic are trying to persuade other clubs of the benefits of season change, if not they should be, but my point is you have to go under the bonnet to identify why a car will not run, not blame the driver.
That EGG is not Humpty Dumpy but an EGM.
weefrathetim
00:09 on 4 February, 2015
Doooohhhh…….
jobo balde:
Where art thou…?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Good morning CQNers,
Wednesday and I can’t find any complaint from Pat Nevin about the songs heard at Hampden on Sunday, and funnily enough neither can I can find anything from the SFA citing officer about the Lee McCullough attack on Leigh Griffiths.
Auldheid, I believe the above encapsulates what passes for the accepted-norm in Scotland, everybody knows its wrong but nobody says anything and nothing is done about it. There is no chance Scottish clubs, individually or collectively will do anything about the dubious loan of the 5 Newcastle players to Rangers.
I forgot…..
Please come back Jobo.
God bless all Tims.
Lennybhoy
Not of the Jobo Baldie standard but it’s a heads up nonetheless.
https://twitter.com/bbcscotweather/status/562878840708825090
Hx2
An tearmann
Good Morning mhate how goes it? So, after your discourse on the Labour Party, who would be the best left wing option? Serious question, as I am very conflicted with regard to my membership and the forthcoming General Election. Hope to see you at the Inter Milan game, I am aiming to be in the BV beforehand and maybe afterwards too! But NAE dodgy kebabs (c. ACGR).
HH
murdochbhoy
08:09 on 4 February, 2015
Watch this space…….since, if nothing is done, then we have confirmation of ‘one law for them’ …..
Lennybhoy
07:56 on
4 February, 2015
jobo balde:
Where art thou…?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
can someone please go round and dig him out.i can’t start my day unless I know how EAST K is.even my wife just asked me as I tell her every morning.
Jobo
Don’t let that clown keep you off Cqn
Your daily weather report is required for us trye bhoys as we know what is coming our way..
67heaven,
You’re a bit slow on the uptake if you didn’t know about them having different rules. They don’t have any rules, rules is for the rest of us.
AR
Murdochbhoy
It is the unwillingness of clubs to act on what are integrity matters that is what Celtic are up against.
The best hope is that, as in 2012 , supporters of clubs disadvantaged put pressure on their Boards to act.
As it stands it looks like all clubs are happy to bow in the way of putting Rangers back at the top.
Having a club that will go to any lengths including cheating to achieve their aims bodes ill for Scottish football.
If TRFC still get gubbed by Hibs or Hearts or drop points to the other challenging clubs then footballing merit will have won the day.
Just as it did in July/ August 2011 at the hands of Malmo.
However ignoring how RFC/ TRFC get into title winning positions will cost the game the support of fair minded supporters.
Imagine TRFC get promoted this season and relegated the next? That is a strong possibility for a club abiding by fair play principles. Would a case be made not to relegate them?
So they depend on loading the dice and it is possible that next season Celtic will be being asked to take part in a rigged game.
All this nonsense could be stopped by a domestic version of FFP that as in other countries sets out parameters for non football earned investment into a club.
I think it no coincidence that domestic FFP has been postponed so far, but without it there can be no check on the TRFC mindset.
Greetings from Spaccanapoli ( part of Napoli Old Town )
Weather – 11 degrees.Sun and cloud.Chance of rain – 20%.
Sign of the times-locals refer to it as Spaccianapoli – Spaccia is dealing..9 30 am and the boys are at work already..
Auldheid I am sorry but glass houses and stones and all that.
Its the unwillingness of the clubs?
What about Celtic? What about our club? What about us.
It is pathetic that we expect other clubs to do our bidding as we act as cowards. Its pathetic those who run celtic hide behind the support to ask the right questions. Its pathetic that they would through that support under a bus in a heartbeat.
Its also pathetic that our host still hasnt explained his old firm lust in the media before the game on Sunday.
We need to stop leaving it to others and demand our club do something instead of sitting on their hands.
Anti CFC media has never been worse. The demise of club 1872 has seen the Daily Rag and both BBC and STv (and snyde)stoop to new lows. The Tv shows will survive but i’ll take great pleasure in seeing some comics go down the tubes. Traynor, Jackson, Keevins and co can carry the can
Watched Roma 0 – Fiorentina 2 ( Coppa Italia ) in a busy Napoli Old Town Bar last night.A very popular result.Roma are Enemy #1 in Napoli.Jawdropping expressions of hatred a go go..No Offensive Behaviour Act here.
My friends in Celtic,
Reading back I have a couple of observations :-
The spirit of Je Suis Charlie didn’t last very long with some CQN;ers. Forget bans, free speech is fundamental to our way of life. Take the time and effort and challenge lazy or incorrect journalism.
I also think we are prematurely cheering the demise of the media and in particular the newspapers. A quick addition tells me that approximately 9 m mainstream newspapers are still read each day, this does not include regional titles, online viewing or the free Metro which has a readership of 1m.
A point to ponder, why did our advert in a relatively low circulation Sunday paper generate so much interest and debate ?
One article in the media, on one day was worth more than 3 years internet dialogue.
In addition, how many links to the mainstream media do we see on CQN daily ? The answer is self explanatory.
This is why PR is so important. Clever organisations use the available outlets. Our own astute Winning Captains et al also acknowledge this.
HH.
HH.
Favourite uncle
Re. Jobo’s EK weather report. It’s also a must for me every morning. I also tell my wife. She has a wry smile as if to suggest, “Ah, you CelticQuickNews Bhoys.” :-))
Neganon2
What is it about the democratic process that all clubs are part of that you fail to understand.
Celtic do not have the power you think they have.
That this does not suit your single track thinking on the cause of all Celtic’s ills is up to you.
The only reason TRFC did not get their SPFL share transfered is that all clubs recognised the strength of feeling and the majority voted against.
TRFC supporters believe PL engineered it and like you fail to appreciate the constraints that apply in the poltical madhouse that is Scottish Football.
Read that RST, statement, looks like Jacks paw prints all over it, thick half truths and misinformation typical of the British propaganda machine.
Note they took a leaf out of cults book and went straight to attacked and bottled the boy.
Well done to all the guys that left the door open for misinformation, it makes their job so much easier.
Neganon2
Here’s a thought ………. Why don’t you start your own blog and stop leaving it to others and demand our club do something instead of sitting on your hands.
You never seem to have anything positive to say about Celtic, CQN or anything in general. Honest to God, it feels like being haunted by a permanent dark cloud.
SoT,
Missed your score and review of last nights Inter game, any chance of a quick summary ?
Je suis neganon2
He suis kevjungle
Je even