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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Could someone enlighten me as to what the inflatable monkeys were all about on Sunday?
Morning Timland from a cold and snowy hun free mountain valley.
Dearie me, that stuff from the RST
HH
To whom it may concern…
Maybe a wee bit of ‘anarchy’ is required?
Going through all the legal-channels…trying to do everything the right way…playing it by the book…sticking to the letter of the law…occupying the moral high ground…being a pillar of the church…donating to every charity…not being rebels anymore…ye see…it’s not working.
Do ye know why it’s not working?…coz the Celtic supporters urny wide enough.
How long do you think it would take – if – Celtic supporters, threatened to with-hold all their money from the club…until…the club fight the Scottish anti-Celtic establishment, about all of the hun-corruption?
I’d say…if Celtic supporters held onto their money by at least a week – after – SB-renewal deadline day…the Celtic ‘bored’ would sh#t their troosers and, have a fleet of Philadelphia lawyers in the ring, fighting Celtic’s corner.
But…the ‘bored’ know that they’ll not have to face ‘that’ consequence coz…there isny any Jungle there noo tae ‘sack the bored’…so…back of the bus it’ll be.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
OG…,
Many Celtic supporters have referred to the hun as monkeys for a long time.
It’s an evolution thing
CANAMALAR
I know what you mean. Fortunately, I am able to simply enjoy the beauty.
JJ
OG
According to the RST, it was all about the GB dehumanising the hun support.
Personally I would have thought monkeys were a vast improvement mind you, but there you go.
HH
Canamalar
Bit harsh on the monkeys, no?
Canamalar
what time does moonhowling start. I can’t see RST statement.
MWD said AYE
SoT
Have they emptied the bins yet?
MOONBEAMSWETDREAMS
2243 from EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL
MOONBEAMSWETDREAMS
Or rather
2234 from EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL
eddieinkirkmichael
22:34 on 3 February, 2015
RST Statement on Old Firm Violence
3rd February 2015
JE SUIS JOBO.
BMCUWP
ta
blantyretim.
Can you accept a phone call from me soon as.?
BGX & Canamalar – That was my reading of it too if it goes to the EGM. But if you recall a week or so ago the Easedales were hoovering up shares so I assumed that was to give them enough of a block to stop the EGM and stop them getting sacked.
Sandy Easedale still controls the largest block of shares if I am not wrong (though King is now the biggest individual shareholder) and he knows he’s out if King is in.
Phil has also opined that Ashley cannot be seen to lose in order to maintain his own reputation as a ruthless negotiator. Losing face, even if it is a hollow victory for the other side, is not his style.
King and Murray (I think) also stated that they would rip up the onerous contracts and await their day in court as they believed they are fraudulent.
Id say stuart armstrong is maybe long term replacement for broonie but that doesnt mean he cant get into team straight away.
Broonie has another 2 good seasons in him.
I prefer scott brown on the right of midfield..we might see this tried again and then play just 1 natural winger.. GMS on left wing.
Found it.
Ha ha
Ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Laughable nonsense.
That is all I have to say about that.
Stupid Monkey Hun bassa’s
MWD said AYE
Hun monkeys or monkey huns?
That is the question.
Bring back Jobo.
HH.
the battered bunnet @ 10 19.
Today’ s rating – Seen it worse .
Inter fans will chant – Napoli – What A Lot of Rubbish . – tonight.
DeniaBhoy…..easdale buying shares is a no brainer….if king wins i would think the price of shares goesup,easdale sells,nice little earner..no?
What’s the scoop with Jobo?
DENIABHOY….they said first thing they would look at is contracts…..MA will have the contracts solid imo…
OG…,
Agreed :) I also think it’s just wrong, monkeys climbed well above them on the evolution scale when they stopped eating their young
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all monkey’s, on behalf of all Celtic fans for any offense caused by the De-primatisation of monkey’s.
I like monkeys.
MWD said AYE
Pod I
Think it’s mint choc chip altough he has been known to like the ole Rum n Raisin
MWD said AYE
Proudnhoy, sad bit is we don’t do long term replacements any more, first decent bid and he’s off, the team are secondary to the balance sheet
Free Jobo!
With every five gallons…
The RST,wit ur they like.Cheeky wee monkies.
Canamalar,
Has that not always been the case?
You can count on one hand the amount of times we’ve turned down big money for anyone.
Monkeys even.
From Jobo on Twitter.
If anyone here has offended the weather guru, then own up and take the flak.
https://twitter.com/jobobaldie/status/562915574536474624
http://youtu.be/oHBl2cGbLBs
HH jamesgang
Who hun(g) the monkey?
HH
gsu
I expect to see Scott Brown play deeper, alongside of Bitton, with Armstrong playing ahead of him.
My Lord, I appear for the third named pannel. He pleads [blushes] errr…not guilty.
https://twitter.com/AndyNewportPA/status/562922117394890752
Apropos the primate debate ref their fans, some elucidation red the boardroom struggle….
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/04/even-cockroaches-have-different-personalities-scientists-find?CMP=twt_gu
HH JamesGang
THOMTHETHIM
Western East Kilbride? Or Eastern West Kilbride,maybe.
He was never that confusing on here,that Singing Dick has messed wi his sensibilities.