January strategy and short-term cover

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I know what you’re thinking, let’s hope we get more exciting January signings like Pawel Brozek, Rabiu Ibrahim and Freddie Ljungberg.

It’s slightly unfair to mock our January transfer business. Kris Commons arrived two years ago and constituted a one man title challenge for a few months (and still delights).  Georgios Samaras and Barry Robson arrived in 2008 and went a long way to ensuring the title came to Celtic.  We went signing crazy in January (and 1st Feb) 2010 when Robbie Keane, Diomansy Kamara and soon-to-be World Cup final legend…. Edson Braafheid arrived.  Robbie proved his class but it was all in vain, alas.

Most of our worries seem to be focussed on protecting those already in the squad.  I’m not too concerned one way or another for the Juventus tie, which will take care of itself, but decisions made today will need to consider the Champions League qualifier challenges we will face in August.  If we sell Gary Hooper today there is no guarantee we will be able to recruit his replacement until the final gasp of the August window.

So far this month we have addressed long-term strategy and short-term cover, if we do any more business I’d be happy with more of the same.

Contrary to career expectations 29-year-old Edson Braafheid is not now a delivery driver for Argos but he’s not playing a lot of football these days either.

If the server overheats later I’m on Twitter, @CQN, and I’ll do my best to figure out Facebook, CQN Magazine, too.
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  1. Ten Men Won The League

     

     

    Apologies for stealing your line about Simon Jordan for a tirade on Facebook. Deserves a wider audience ( than my meagre list of FB friends)

     

     

     

    Jimbo

  2. Sky still going with Kevin Doyle deal still a possibility even though he was on bench for wolves at Leicester tonight. Another made up story?

  3. Oh dear god ….. Jim white is an utter utter utter gobshite and 24 carat fud…. Sorry but just had to get that off ma chest

  4. Can one of you twitter types get a hold of Lisa Hague tell her we need further reassurance…oh and a wee bit of transfer gossip would be good

  5. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar, our Celtic Warrior on

    googybhoy ♥ Celtic

     

    22:25 on

     

    31 January, 2013

     

     

    87mins to the end of your “booze free” window. Can you hold in there? :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  6. pedrocaravanachio67

     

    22:33

     

     

    Ha!!

     

     

    In Stalin’s Russia people were killed for laughing at jokes that bad.

  7. ArranmoreBhoyLXV11 on

    HH

     

     

    Check John Clark not subject of bid from Norwich? Jim Whyte – he d lick himself if he could!- gutted there s no Hoops exodus…..

     

     

     

    GIRUY I say…

  8. Dean Saunders at Wolves press conference after game tonight says we made a loan bid for Kevin Doyle but it was rejected

  9. TT

     

     

    I’m pinning my hopes on the fact that Hooper is fed up with his agents and is going to sign a deal when his contract with them ends ……it’s been reported that it ends now

  10. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Hibs new recruit is British born and will be a loan deal. Final details being ironed out NOW! Name coming soon!#bbcsportscot

     

     

     

    He doesn’t have a name??????

  11. ArranmoreBhoyLXV11 on

    HH , re post 1111, I resisted a post the other night as the count was 666….

     

     

     

    NUMBERS!

  12. celticrollercoaster loves wee oscar, our celtic warrior

     

     

    22:32 on

     

    31 January, 2013

     

    googybhoy ♥ Celtic

     

    22:25 on

     

    31 January, 2013

     

     

    87mins to the end of your “booze free” window. Can you hold in there? :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    ………………

     

     

    No problems but cannot guarantee not to be nuisance if there is a quiz tomorrow.

     

     

    ;>}

  13. Hooper, Samaras, Stokes, Watt, Miku & Lassed. Why on earth were we trying to get Kevin Doyle on loan?

  14. tommytwiststommyturns on

    stormin norman – ah like your thinking! Got yer London hotel rooms booked already?! :-)

     

     

    T4

  15. Che

     

    Lisa Hague‏@lisahague

     

     

    Don’t you worry hes at home tucked up! Like I say – going nowhere! #promise!

  16. Ten Men Won The League

     

    22:35 on 31 January, 2013

     

    He is a dead ringer for the blond geezer that was in Spandau Ballet. Think he played the sax (or pretended to)

     

     

    Steve Norman

  17. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Son of Gabriel @ 22.33

     

     

    I’m here all week….try the veal ;-)

     

     

    Those spurs fans are a rowdy bunch.

  18. This transfer window pash is a pain.

     

     

    Been dry all month – well since the wee hours of Jan 1 but god , this could drive you to drink.

     

     

    Googybhoy -well done .

     

    Vmhan – well done – i believe you’re keeping it going – good for you.

     

     

    Me , i’m feeling ambivalent about it. Pleased that i managed the month but a wee bit worried that i feel good about it !!

     

     

    Well chuffed that we’ve proven we have plans and ambitions – we might not be able to always hold on to our players but at least we’ll do business on our terms .

     

     

    With Hooper’s agent being oot a job in 20 mins , anyone want to guess that Ghoops is lining up a new contract either with us or elsewhere in the summer ?

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Sanna

  19. BBC Sport ‏@BBCSport

     

     

    Wolves turn down an offer from #SPL side Celtic for striker Kevin Doyle, confirms #WWFC manager Dean Saunders. #bbctransfernews

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