The January 2020 transfer window closed with Celtic signing Patryk Klimala and Ismaila Soro, while Lewis Morgan and Scott Sinclair left the club. In addition, Eboue Kouassi and Jack Hendry, as well as several youth players, left on loan.
With two left wingers out (or on their way out), Mikey Johnston’s injury on Wednesday set the club off looking for cover for that position. If we continue to play three at the back, this will be less of a concern, but Neil Lennon’s other regular formation, with four at the back, requires two wingers. It will be a couple of weeks before Mohamed Elyounoussi is back to full fitness, so James Forrest will carry much of the burden until then.
My big concern is in central defence. We have the headcount in this area, but the two covering players, Jozo Simunovic and Nir Bitton have endured another season of injury, we are vulnerable. Hatem Elhamed plays both right and centre back, so should be able to provide cover. Like Moi, he is working towards full fitness. You can chart your own expectations on when he is Hatem is back and Jozo is next injured.
Ismaila Soro is likely to be used sparingly over the next few weeks as he adjusts to living in northern Europe, but I have hopes for him. We need a player we can rely on when Callum McGregor or Scott Brown need a rest. Patryk Klimala looks to have pace and a directness in front of goal. He will give the manager options.
Despite the hero-status I attach to Scott Sinclair, those who have left contributed next to nothing this season, so should not be a miss between now and May. The transfer window litmus test: Stronger or Weaker, will hopefully be passed. What we know for certain is that we will not be significantly stronger or weaker. This was a window of the margins. Given the importance of this season, that fact is frustrating.
We now have our squad for what will either be our second nine-in-a-row season and possible fourth consecutive treble (!), or something considerably less glorious. They are the strongest squad in the country, with the best manager in the country, do not bet against them.
The job starts with three consecutive games in Lanarkshire, the first time in our 132-year history this is the case (if I momentarily stop claiming Glasgow as part of the County). History is ours for the making, let’s get it done.
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Bhoylo83 10.00pm
How many centre halves do you think Celtic would need against Hamilton ? Don’t think they would play with much more than one forward … or do you think we need more centre halves than we have available
DD, Never met you.. I sincerely echo whit you say.
Garry, like me, takes this World seriously, maybe we should be more aloof.The highest possible respect for ye DD.
Hopefully the G Thang will be jibber jabbering in May.
then go 2 at the back, 5 in middle, 3 up front , you know it makes sense.
Remember Reamonn Gormley… A great ambassador for his family and his culture.
RIP son
A proper fitba Statement. CELTIC.
THERE is only 1 King Billy.
Powerful.
Vogue
I had a game today myself and have been unable to get off the sofa since I got home
Decided to open a wee can when I heard the Sevco result, but ready for my bed now
Getting old
😴
Ron we are witnessing genius..
Celtic is Incredible.
With regard to centre backs. I tool the fact that we recalled Welsh from his loan spell as a sign that (a) we may need him and (b) we are likely to persevere with 3 at the back. Which is nice.
However, I haven’t yet inserted an extra row in my ever expanding POTY spreadsheet to accommodate his points ;-)
GFTB
Just wondering cos I’d like to see us play 3-5-2 again
BHOYLO83 on 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 10:24 PM
If you’re getting old my young friend I’m getting worried.
Methuselah C.S.C HH
PETEC
Thanks for your kind words on previous blog my friend.hh
Night night all 3 points tomorrow please.
Bhoylo83 10.27pm
Snap … I want us to okay two up top ever game … Odsonne & Leigh remind me of Hooper & Stokes … I think French Eddy becomes a better footballer with Leigh by his side …
Their on field connection is exceptional 🍀
We need to keep calm and carry on with our own business. If we continue to win matches it will place an intolerable pressure on our nearest challengers.
I am no expert but i get the feeling something is not right over the water. The tide is beginning to turn and Gerrard today looked like a man rattled and searching for answers. Glasgow is an intense environment to work and to live and it may be taking its toll. How many transfer windows can he absorb loans from Hibs and youngsters living off their old man’s name. To say the whole thing is a ticking time bomb is an understatement. We have seen some implosions in recent times but i believe we have seen nothing yet. I would love nothing more than a complete and utter hun collapse. It would be extraordinary.
Every win from here on in will be like a dagger to the huns black heart. 9 and 10 will finish them
GFTB
If we’re going to play 3 5 2 again we need 3 centre halves , do we not . Or is Johnny Hayes a centre half now
that’s a nice number of the page we are on.
As I have 2 of my grandchildren sleeping over tonight (so their mum can party for her 30th) then I fear it may be like a 4am alarm call. So, with that I bid you One More Sleep ;-)
David 17 10.47
We need to keep calm :-) :-) :-)
Apologies to any of my trolls but the TimReaper you actually posted we won’t win the league if we don’t beat Killie the other week … now asking for calm :-)
St Tams 10.48pm
I will leave Neil Lennon to choose players and formations … funnily enough after telling punters on here how you struggled to get a new seat I Hope St Johnstone looked after you during the week …
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 9:15 PM
Bada
If my arithmetic is right only 38 hours before Judith back on the telly👍👏
Will Sky+ the Goddess 👍
GFTB
I had a great seat on Wednesday night. Great veiw of the 3 goals.
St Tams 11.06pn
Good stuff .. in that first half sine of the best fitba in a long time …
Griff tremendous
I think we are in a good place
First 30 mins was excellent, like Pittodrie earlier in the season
St Tams 11.12pm
Do we sometimes dwell on the very odd defeat … some might kid on the new huns aren’t the same Klub as the old Huns … but “oh my days” some Celtic fans should shoorly not get so upset about some new Hun on the block … for me .. and only me .. it’s still the same cheating dirty orange baskets and in my wee shitey opinion nobody will take that away from me … every title , cup or league game … it’s not Sevco for me …. it’s still the same dirty orange cheating bams that I grew up not liking :-)
GFTB on 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 10:56 PM
David17 did indeed say that. But we won and passed the test. Had we been gubbed at Rugby park we wouldn’t be 4 points clear. Btw keep calm as in don’t get carried away. Even some Huns have thrown the towel in.
Plot thickens…
https://twitter.com/Sunday_Mail/status/1223751381842059267?s=20
David 17 11.38pm
👍
Good stuff … this Celtic team are better than many think .. we are in a very good place 🍀
So it was a Private Investigator hired by Moreorless wife that was allegedly tampering with his car.
David 17,
seen it on Facebook earlier but wanted to see it in print before saying anything,
you couldnt make it up.
So it wasn’t ‘attempted murder’. It was his own wife tracking him. Bwahahahah.
The PI story has been out there but the Daily Record & The Son are establishing what school the private detective attended
St ………… insert your most important fenian name
Gftb,
Different Shite, same flies.
G-D 12.-12am
Same shite even more horrible flies
I think we need a Hun to oppose .. AC Milan want to Inter … Roma don’t like the Lazio … football is quite primitive .. would I like the Huns to be gone for good ??? Not to sure I just want Celtic to be magic .,, but a Celtic probably needs a form of the Hun … I will let the more educated on here explain why Celtic are better off without an enemy :-) am far too simple for that conversation
David17 – thanks for the link.
I thought that story line was a wind up.
Could still be I suppose.
Lol.
Good night all
DAVID17 on 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 11:50 PM
—————————————————————
What makes me suspicious about this is who the feck, in their right mind, would pay £2 for that arsewipe of a rag? 😉
GFTB on 2ND FEBRUARY 2020 12:24 AM
Sevco are not rangers because they died, fact in law. Sevco pretend to be rangers and ‘the people’ buy into it because the alternative is accepting rangers died. As a celtic supporter i dislike sevco because Sevco looks like and acts like rangers and has attracted the same knuckle draggers as rangers.
Celtic would go on without sevco so celtic don’t need sevco. However, some supporters enjoy the enemy and the battle as do some of the business men that run the clubs.
HH
I could be wrong but I’m sure I must take the credit for introducing us all all to the voluptuous Judith, many, many night shifts ago.
Sorry Bada but Judith used to knock me off every morning she appeared ( maybe bad choice of word,) but never the less 😔
Quite happy to share all the same mind 👍
Was Tom Sellic the Private Investigator?
So after a few days of “the peepul” and a compliant media insinuating that some deranged fenian had been tampering with El Buffs brakes it turns out that he has previous for extra marital and the wife has hired Dick Tracer…you really couldn’t make it up!
SPFL YouTube Highlights
Huns 0-0 Sheep
https://youtu.be/J7QgXNtRUck