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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1,488 Comments

  1. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Petec,

     

    Thought he was gonnae get his hair washed when he sat down :o)

  2. Bayonne has pulled out of the superbowl half time show…Bob Dylan has stepped in to replace her.

     

    I now have a reason to watch it. :)

  3. zimmerman

     

     

    01:36 on 1 February, 2013

     

     

    Bayonne has pulled out of the superbowl half time show…Bob Dylan has stepped in to replace her.

     

    I now have a reason to watch it. :)

     

    ===========================================

     

     

    But how will Dylan carry off those gold hotpants?

  4. The Resident \m/O\m/ on

    cool to see hooper staying. lets get past juve, win the league & the cup and see him want to extend, unless we get the 10 mil then it’s adios gaz, thanks for the goals, good luck, who’s next up to be a legend.

     

     

    track for the weekend (clubbers only)

     

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2C2Cy1Tc0Y

  5. zimmerman

     

    If you had ever visited Bayonne you would know why they pulled out.

     

    Dreadful dreary town.

  6. canamalar 01:22

     

     

    Sammi must be the 2nd name on that teamsheet every European game.

     

     

    Sammi is the finest example to Every player who becomes a Celt in these ‘modern times’.

     

     

    There are a few chapters still to be written as well. ;)

     

     

    His sublime pass that led to the Hooper goal against that deid Club isn’t quite Maestro quality but it isnae far off it. :))

  7. A Ceiler Gonof Rust

     

     

    01:29 on 1 February, 2013

     

     

    Our team is intact,

     

     

    God bless Celtic.

     

    _____________________________

     

     

    It is time to knuckle down and achieve as much as possible from here on in.

     

     

    I was annoyed about last Sunday and I never even got to see the game apart from the last 15 minutes or so.

     

     

    These young guys are growing up quickly, they are Winners and ultimately, perhaps the Kilmarnock result is a real blessing in disguise.

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BIGBONES8867 0044

     

     

    That was the point I was trying to make in the post previous to yours.

     

     

    When it works,it’s great-as it has in the three league games since the break.

  9. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    THE RESIDENT 0219

     

     

    THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD…..

     

     

    I use the original,and the LULU cover,to gently wind-up Bowie fans like VOGUE PUNTER

     

     

    I admit to liking the NIRVANA version too-just a brilliant choon,to be honest.

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

     

    02:48 on 1 February, 2013

     

     

    THE RESIDENT 0219

     

     

    THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD…..

     

     

    I use the original,and the LULU cover,to gently wind-up Bowie fans like VOGUE PUNTER

     

     

    I admit to liking the NIRVANA version too-just a brilliant choon,to be honest.

     

    _______________________________________________________________________

     

     

    Provo cative language.

     

     

    I really hate Maurice, I Strongly hate Maurice.

     

     

    ;)) and just because he is a hater of humanity.

     

     

    World traders :(( :((

     

     

    Check the email audio from earlier. :D

  11. The DJ on Smooth Radio at the moment is a fully paid up,24 carat ,bell end.

     

    My pet donkey could pick better tunes and he knows hee – haw about music.

  12. charliebhoy jnr update bk meal tnight,which he moastly ate. his mother in her wisdom gave him a vibrating frog to ease his neck(i know) when he questioned the pedigree of this frog(and he was told of its legitimacy)he was pleased to see it came in its box(his words)…i of course did strenuosly beg his pardon …i did enjoy his laughter ….his son weee charliebhoy took his first steps today(didnt tell charles,but i did think, as he made his first steps how close it was to his father making his last) keeping the faith is all that it should be cracked up to be hh

  13. Did the MSM manage to sell H88ps?

     

     

    Celtic because the way they are run, since Fergus, are now going to reap many rewards.

     

     

    The Biggie may happen this year or in 5 years but one thing is Certain, Celtic will be the very best, and probably will give guidance again, against a multitude of negative forces, to the Whole World.

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CHARLIEBHOY

     

     

    After what you and yours have been through,I think that you have every right to be.

     

     

    In fact,I’m gonna join you,if you don’t mind.

     

     

    Salud-to three generations of Charliebhoys……

     

     

    HH&KTF

  15. charliebhoy

     

     

    03:20 on 1 February, 2013

     

     

    charliebhoy jnr update bk meal tnight,which he moastly ate. his mother in her wisdom gave him a vibrating frog to ease his neck(i know) when he questioned the pedigree of this frog(and he was told of its legitimacy)he was pleased to see it came in its box(his words)…i of course did strenuosly beg his pardon …i did enjoy his laughter ….his son weee charliebhoy took his first steps today(didnt tell charles,but i did think, as he made his first steps how close it was to his father making his last) keeping the faith is all that it should be cracked up to be hh

     

    ______________________________________________________________________

     

     

    You say so much in so few words and that is even before you say “keeping the faith is all that it should be cracked up to be hh”

     

     

    God Bless

  16. As always these days charliebhoy, best wishes to you and yours. And on all the days when your present troubles are a distant memory.

     

    HH!

  17. The Resident \m/O\m/ on

    izzy

     

     

    lonny is very much appreciated in the underground techno scene ;) *cue’s sample into traktor*

  18. miki67/charliebhoy

     

     

    “Between these two conflicting Titans — Science and Theology — is a bewildered public losing all belief in man’s personal immortality, in deity of any kind, and rapidly descending to the level of a mere animal existence. Such is the picture of the hour, illumined by the bright noon-day sun of this Christian and scientific era!”

     

     

    A stoatir, or perhaps a stoater.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Simple Simon met a pieman is sensational. :P