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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FFM…,
Labour law, the bhoy is going to be an agent when he retires, might also find a cop out for living wage troubles.
Livibhoy
Fair enough … but my questions in general remains … not having seen enough of the two of them….. where/how will they fit into RD’s system (whenever they do play)?
Oooft even Brian Laudrup will be on the banned list after his comments this afternoon! Says he’s proud when we do well in Europe:)
HH
Canamalar.
There was a really good program on BBC2 a few weeks ago – The Super Rich and Us.
Despite the title, it is a pretty serious bit of journalism and documentary.
It made me angry to watch it – but it pretty clearly identified the legislation and the prevailing attitudes that leads us to the hell hole where we are today. Its worth a watch if its still kicking around on the iPlayer.
But one thing is for sure – this situation isn’t Brown or Blairs making.
mike in toronto
GMS is a winger. We currently play without a natural winger.
I reckon Armstrong will play attacking midfield. With the number of 1 on 1’s Johanssen passes up I would like to see him in that role and Johanssen playing further back. Just a personal opinion.
I am not sure either will be starters for a while though if they need to get their fitness on a level with everyong else. I would imagine GMS would get a start first since we lack a natural winger in the first team.
Just my thoughts though Ronny may see another slot for Armstrong possibly a sitting role with Nir Bitton.
LB
Reading the exchange earlier between Jimbo67 and Alf Garnett, eh eh I mean Noakes, all I have to say is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKm5xQyD2vE
Welcome to our new bhoys, I hope they all hit the ground running………..extremely fast.
HH
an tearmann
Shall we put you down as a ‘definite mibbee’ re voting labour…….
……or Sevco Labour, as they may now be known?
;-)
HH jamesgang
An Tearmann
16:17 on
3 February, 2015
Yes. Willie Henderson was/is a lovely guy who had a good relationship with his contemporary opponents.
I was even on the end of a “pat oan the heid” from him.
The occasion was a Celtic v Rangers match at Celtic Park around 1962. I had been playing for my school team at Pirie Park in the morning and went straight to the game
.
Me and my pals found our way up to a central barrier under the Cantilever stand behind the goal Rangers defended in the first half. Celtic were awarded a penalty just before half-time and up strolled Paddy Crerand to sidefoot the ball to the goalkeeper’s left. Billy Ritchie stretched his full length and saved it.
Pandemonium surrounded me and I fainted (I was only 12). I got passed all the way down to the front thanks to all them auld tough guys who used to carry white hankies. On the way into the tunnel with the ambulancemen the players started to come down and wee Willie Henderson gave me a pat on the heid saying “Are ye awright son?”
Of course I was and didn’t emerge until 15 minutes into the second half with Rangers a goal up, scored by Henderson, I think. 1-0 Final score. Good wee guy but never as good as wee Jinky .
Worse than all of that my auld man gave me a slap for wearing my fitba socks as somebody had told him they had seen me being stretchered out of the Celtic end and ” he was wearing his schools’ socks”
Clype
Hail Hail
On the transfer window it seems to me there are really two questions:-
1 Are we stronger than we were? – IMO yes but we don’t know by how much until the
new signings bed in.
2. Are we stronger than we could have been had rumoured sales taken place? – IMO
that’s a definite yes given that VVD and KC are still here.
Quite happy with window passed
My big worry remains in relation to CL qualifiers if we have to go in without 1 or possibly both out current central defenders
We shall wait and see but as stated happy with the window
cyrenean,
You should post more often, I mind having my wee jinky keyring as a young bhoy…no Key’s were trusted to me though.
Tim Malone will Tell
At no time did i say Labour initiated deregulation.
I said as so called Labour government did nothing to derail deregulating the city when it was in power from 1997 onwards
you are correct Thatcher initiated market dereg with big bang in 1985.Are you trying to tell me nothing could be done by a democratically elected labour govt from 97 onwards.
Every mansion house speech highlights how labour embedded its betrayal whilst licking up to the people who threw our economy over a cliff.
now i know its a toughie but Labour where responsible for crazy growth in credit,
or take responsibility for anything,they are rather ‘murrayesque’ in how their one sided memory works
Give us a real party of the left and not these fakes from the islington tea set.thats were the real betrayal guff comes from mate.
Give us real democracy instead a party who only want power but are horrendous once they get it.
hope your well mate
IslingtonGuffCsc
If we were to lose VVD for millions in the summer I’d hope we’d do our best to sign Denayer. I actually think he might work well Ambrose, as he has the speed to cover in behind him.
Tim Malone…,
Sorry pal totally disagree on the Blair one, he had a major majority that could have reigned them in, in fact Brown as exchequer was punching exactly for that and was hamstrung by Blair. Remember Brown wanted to kill off tax havens to allow govts to trace stolen tax money.
Blair and mandelson made sure that when Brown took over that the Labour Party would not function as a unit ever again therefore neutering Brown and ensuring he could only ever be reactionary responding to crisis after crisis. At least thats my interpretation of events.
Cyrenean 16:36
Great post mhate more o them please :-)
HH
Livibhoy
You may be right …. but I am still unclear … RD seems to favour the 4-3-3 , and has SJ as his attacking mid.
If GMS is a true winger, where does he fit it, as RD doesn’t seem to favour wingers (a consequence of the system)?
I thought (could be wrong) that SA played the same sort of role that SJ plays … how do we accommodate them both?
Sipsini
Are you trusted with a key now?
HH jamesgang
JamesGang
vive le cqn corner :-)
Dont worry they all get it :-)
HH big mhan
mike in toronto
I think our formation is more 4-5-1 when we attack though it quickly becomes 2-5-3.
Maybe Ronny will change his formation when he gets the players in he wants.
Not really sure to be honest but you can never have too many good players.
I have not seen two happier signings for a very long time.
These Bhoys will give their all in the Hoops.
LB
‘Arry will find a spot on the BT Sport couch ,with the Govan Gardener next season……
sipsini
16:41 on
3 February, 2015
Thank you. I used to post a wee bit more often especially around Dougie Dougie time but circumstances over the last few years have curtailed my activities and I just enjoy the trips down Memory Lane.
Some of the debates are a bit tedious and political and I tend to steer clear of them. But it is brilliant to witness the passionate way some posters put their points across.
I was up in Glasgow the other week and went to the Motherwell game. It was terrific just talking about the Celtic to real Celtic supporters who exuded real optimism about the future of the club.
I travelled on the Supporters bus from Kelly’s/Heraghty’s in Pollokshaws and what a great crowd they were. I had to laugh when, getting off the bus, I heard the convener say “Don’t forget…8 o’clock Saturday for the trip to Dingwall”
They’re the Celtic supporters I’ve always loved.
Hail Hail
jamesgang,
Nope, I don’t need one… So my daughter tells me. :((
Canamalar
16:43 on 3 February, 2015
Tim Malone…,
Sorry pal totally disagree on the Blair one, he had a major majority that could have reigned them in, in fact Brown as exchequer was punching exactly for that and was hamstrung by Blair. Remember Brown wanted to kill off tax havens to allow govts to trace stolen tax money.
Blair and mandelson made sure that when Brown took over that the Labour Party would not function as a unit ever again therefore neutering Brown and ensuring he could only ever be reactionary responding to crisis after crisis. At least thats my interpretation of events.
—
Canamalar,
Agree with your re Brown & Blair.
Imo, Brown wanted to make changes, hence why the establishment rags destroyed his popularity.
Blair on the other hand, althought he eventually admitted it after denying it for some time (more lies) was pre-selected by the Bilderbergers.
On a more positive note, good to see PL is thinking ahead, and sees us getting bargain discounted agency fees from SA in the future…..
Livibhoy
Agree the two new Bhoys look really happy. In fact I think this whole team is happy. Our players support each other well, laugh and smile a lot. I think that’s why we are not seeing discontent from some of them who will leave in the Summer. The coaching staff must make it fun.
Great to be a Tim
Doh, I broke the unspoken rule of bringing moonhowling to the day shift.
It was Canamalar’s fault.
(revenge for Boots’ Corner…..)
Jimmy McGrory 7 caps and 6 goals, tells the whole story.
Alan Morton, 1872 club contemporary…31 caps
Bobby Murdoch, European Cup winner and some fans’ best ever Celtic player (4th for me)..12 caps and 6 goals
Jim Baxter 36 caps, 3 goals.
Plenty other examples.
Wullie Henderson a gentleman and was first to admit ‘the wee man’, as he called him, was different class.
Pierre.. Done Good.
Yes, he did..Don’t Argy
Noo, which wan o’ the Three Incomers…. who ur Newcomers..Excites Kojo
the Maist?
Na.. Don’t even try..ye wull nevah Guess..
So.. Ah wull tell ye.
Micky.. that’s Who..
n.. why wid that be?
Na.. Ye’ll Nevah guess, THAT Reason, eethur..
So..Ah wull tell ye..why.
The Mick, is a real find..so he is..
Fur.
He kin Actually..
Make his Crosses,intae oor Opponents’ Box..
Deadly Affairs…
n…
Na.. No fur a Passing Boid..
or a Low Flying Aeroplane..a La.. Izzy..
Na..
But,
Fur oor Opponents,
Yes, this Kid knows how tae Mak sure that His Assists..
Coont.
They wull ayewiz afford a Scoring Opportunity ,tae a Friendly Colleague.
Noo..this is.. Big, Big, Noos..
A Celtic wingman, who kin Make Every wan o’ his Crosses.. a Goal Scoring Op.
Nevah, Hoid of such a Thing.. fur.. Donkeys’..
‘
Right??
Howevahhh.. in Mick’s Case…
You’ll see..Jist you wait..
Mebbe, No too Long.. eether..
Kojo
Happy as Larry.
My revenge hasn’t even started yet :)
I accessed the Daily Record to check out their reporting on some Celtic related stories and I see their maintaining their gutter reporting standard……
“Watch the moment married man and his newly-engaged colleague enjoy office romp in full view of stunned drinkers in nearby bar”
By Unnamed correspondent
Frisky couple caught having sex in pub toilet dragged from cubicle naked by police
By Ashleigh McGinley, Sarah Ridley
Watch woman humiliate plane passenger who she claims groped her on the flight .
By Alex Wellman, Lindsey Archibald
Cheeky ryanair ground crew caught drawing giant penis in snow at Dublin airport.
By John Shammas
Teenager charged over x rated porn style video in university library says I was bored.
By Steve Robson
Wall street intern who quit job to become porn star lands six- figure deal for first blue movie.
By Chris Hewett
Pathetic really…..
How come the ole Horribles are on the TV again this weekend?
I can only hope they are not goaded by Gordon Brown, Ian Rankin and wee Val Mcdermid turnin’ up wi’ rolls of linoleum and shoutin’ play up, Rovers!’
…to purge my een o’ this atrocity I shall watch a re-run of ‘Call the Midwife’ sortin’ out the homophobes and Hibernophobes of post war Poplar.
DBBIA/NonatusHouseCSC
Wear a hat like mine, people do their best to avoid talking to me now!
Now there’s something you don’t see every day, pity really
Still some Inter tickets available via Celtic website
mike in toronto
16:26 on
I am interested in our two new players…. assuming that they both start on the weekend, how/where would they fit in?
I am assuming that the back four (five if you include CG) remains unchanged. Dont see how RD can leave out SB or NB, and he seems to favour SJ …. so that leaves 3 spots open….
Where do SA and GMS fit? Who sits?.
————-
I would have thought that with these two coming in Commons may have been for the off but indications seem to be he will sign. Think by next season he will become more of a squad player, possibly why they have been reluctant to give the 2 year deal. Lenny left him out of a lot of the European games, so away to Inter for example I think you might see
————–Brown—Bitton
Forrest —-Joe Hansen— Armstrong
Read an interesting article from a few weeks back, for the life of me can’t remember who the coach was, but he was top level, talking about the 4-2-3-1. Was saying that for the 2 wide players in the 3, he liked one to be more of a midfield type, and the other to be more of a winger. Really made sense the way he described it, presenting different challenges for a defence to combat.
Interesting to see what RD is planning. Think GMS will be used sparingly till he gets his fitness and strength up.
Tremendous post Paul67- good on the football and the ‘if they think they’re getting away with it they can thieves again’.
Mn the hoops
Wee Trixie
Nurse………… Nurse………
Genuine mistake , meant ‘ think’ big tumbs
• Snake Plissken
12:11 on 3 February, 2015
Alfie Noakes
Jimmy Johnstone got 23 caps for Scotland.
Willie Henderson got 29 and they played the same position.
*ok lets’ put things into perspective, when Henderson broke intae the hun team he replaced internationalist alice scott….however not in the national side and scott was still being picked while languishing in the reserves.
Incidentally prior to a WC Play Off game against the Czechs both henderson and scott were injured….back-up right winger was Stevie Chalmers……deid team inside left Ralph brand was chosen instead of a future EC winner…Scotland lost in extra time to a team that finished runners up to Brazil in Chile.
Eventually henderson was picked foe the national team while scott was bundled off to Everton….at that time the Wee Mhan was still a ball bhoy and playing for Blantyre Celtic.
Jimmy was a bit of an enigma in his early days with the Bhoys and didn’t play in the 1965 Cup Final…..in fact it’s rumoured that he was on a list of players that Jock gave to Bob Kelly as being surplus to requirements.
The Wee Mhan buckled down though and 6 months later played in the League Cup Final against the huns in a game that I attribute to being the catalyst for the Big Cup and honest NIAR.
He was eventually picked for his country after an excellent 65/66 season against england at humpden….Scotland lost 3-4 to the eventual WC winners with Jinky scoring both goals…..if my memory serves me well the only Scottish players that congratulated Jimmy on scoring were Bremner, Law and the Celtic contingent.
hendersons career went on the wane after he was diagnosed with bunion problems which seriously curtailed his international career….but not to the benefit of Jinky….not when players like Lorimer or Morgan were available instead.
Comparing both players and their international record is like apples and tangerines.
Don’t get me started on the greatest goalscorer the country has ever seen….never played at Wembley….or on big Yogi torturing Jackie Charlton in a League International at humpden only for st. john to be chosen for Wembley.