Celtic’s January transfer window saw seven new players sign deals, although only four will be at the club for the remainder of this season, and only one of those, Vakoun Issouf Bayo, is on a permanent deal.
Bayo is a classic centre forward-target man, unlike Leigh Griffiths or Odsonne Edouard, who like to play in the channels. He has not played for two months, so it is likely to be a couple of weeks before we see him. He is here because of our Ivorian Connection through Kolo Toure, who is a coach at both Celtic and Ivory Coast. That being the case, the club should know more about him than most new signings, which should mitigate the risk inherent in any signing.
Since the resumption of action after the winter break, we have seen Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah fulfil the striker role, each on loan, from West Brom and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Neither player is here to play the striker role long-term; expect them to supplement the wide positions after we return to a more normal compliment up front.
With minutes to spare, Jeremy Toljan signed on loan from Borussia Dortmund. This is a player who great things were expected from when he left Hoffenhiem 18 months ago, but Dortmund is a different beast and he did not find the move easy.
That’s not dissuaded many of his talent, which means Celtic’s chances of securing his services on a permanent basis are slim. I also believe the player is on pretty decent (cough) contract. He will not be here beyond May.
Maryann Shved, 21, arrived this week from Karpaty Lviv in Ukraine, where he has returned to stay until the summer. We moved early for Maryann, interest in the player was generated in only 38 competitive games. Players grow up on the football field and Maryann needs as many opportunities as he can get right now. With the manager having so many wide options for the remainder of the season, loaning him back to Karpaty was an easy decision.
Two American full backs were signed yesterday, Andrew Gutman (22) and Manny Perez (19), both loaned back to US clubs.
So all these loans arrivals, signings-only-to-be-loaned out, what’s the plan?
The top-level plan is to win the league, do our best to win the two cups and to give us the best chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Everything else is a consequence of this. Two decades ago, when Martin O’Neill set his mind to the same task, he signed talent who were at the peak of their physical capabilities. Many of those who arrived not only had experience in the English Premiership, they were top performers there.
By the time Gordon Strachan took over, signing strikers who were recently top scorers in England was no longer possible. Gordon took to Poland (as well as Easter Road), as we searched for talent in value markets.
Neil Lennon’s term saw the transitioning to where we are now. Neil found African talent, and successfully raided the lower leagues in England, but under his tenure we embarked on what would become one of the mainstays of our recruitment planning – loaning young players (Fraser Forster) who were not getting a sniff at wealthier clubs.
Many doors have closed to us in the last 20 years. There will be no more Chris Suttons, while competition for players across Eastern Europe is vastly greater than it was when we signed Artur Boruc.
The news is not all bad, in fact, significant things are much better than they were 20 years ago, most specifically, the development of young talent. Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and James Forrest are more successful than any player Paul McStay and Aiden McGeady – and both of them were notable as exceptions for their eras.
The ‘Fraser Forster strategy’ – scout teams too distracted elsewhere to give opportunities to players, has been very productive. Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Edouard and Dedryck Boyata all fall into this category (we’ll reserve comment on Daniel Arzani). We managed to get Odsonne on a try-before-you-buy loan first. During his loan he did enough to convince Brendan Rodgers to beak our transfer record on him. Celtic think this will continue to be a productive furrow for them.
Not all signings are Development Projects
Not all loans fall into this category. Some, like Jeremy Toljan, are here to do a job for a specific period. Development Projects are not the only game in town, sometimes you just have to plug a hole to strengthen the team.
There were choices for the right back role. Lech Poznan’s Robert Gumny was looked at and liked, but the player failed a medical a year ago and has not played enough football since a subsequent operation to convince anyone he would be fitter than Jozo Simunovic. Or we could have tried to find a nugget elsewhere, but Jeremy got the nod.
We sign a lot of players
Two American full backs on the same day we sign a German full back, “millions of wingers”. This has been going on for a while. You, me, Celtic and the players know, not all of them are going to make it. Football, for a century, has harvested talent, picked the cherries and cast the darnel aside.
I remember Martin O’Neill, flush with the success of his early signings and before his Ulrik Laursen and David Fernandez period, told us that every signing a football club makes needs to be a success. Yes, if you have the wisdom and insight, the luck and the money, maybe you can be so bold. But there is a real world out there full of scouts and managers who each carry the weight of experience of players who just didn’t work out.
There are formulas, some better than others, but we should know that just putting a Celtic jersey onto a player will not, and has never, made him a certain success. Martin would have been more accurate by saying ;You have to kiss a lot of frogs in this business’, just do your best to get some handsome frogs in the first place.
We have exceptional domestic talent: Scott Brown, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie – better than any Scottish team in 30 years, and we have done very well to retain them.
There is room for others to follow. The opportunity is there for Scott Bain and Tony Ralston.
As well as developing our own talent, we have cooperated with two of the world’s richest, Manchester City and PSG, to foster young players who are not getting a chance at their parent club. This is affordable, enhances the squad, and has helped achieve our football objectives.
We have five young players out on loan: Lewis Morgan, Calvin Miller, Andrew Gutman and Manny Perez, and Maryann Shved. The hope is some develop into first-team regulars, like Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie did.
That’s the strategy. Is it better than signing the best permanent players we can? Like you, I prefer the good ones to be tied down to long-term contracts at Celtic, but despite this, the answer is a clear yes. We need to work angles with PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Man City. We need to take risks on players with only a few dozen games under their belt. When an opportunity to sign a Ntcham or Boyata arises, take it. And we need to continue to do what we are doing with youth development.
Will it deliver 8-in-a-row? You bet your bum it will.
687 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 19
- »
Sevco return home from Cowdenbeath
Loans ??
We all want Celtic to get the best players they can, sometimes getting players to sign for Celtic is a very hard sell, probably winning trophies and games against the Sevs are our biggest draw with qualifying chances for the CL every season in the recent past …. BUT getting a player(s) on loan then gives the players the opportunity to win trophies and experience playing for Celtic … Fraser Foster, Sammy, Paddy R (extended loan) Odsonne are players who initially loan signings made permanent, I think Benkovic, Burke, Weah & Jeremy might be outwith our price range but who knows …. getting these type of players here on loan is a success in itself, … heavy snowfall in ML5 ❄️❄️
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 4:56 PM
The old soooooooooooo boring predictable troll post.
Where are all these trolls. ? It’s lamentable comments like that which drive posters away.
Contribute to the debate please and post something of substance.
We should be welcoming comments which are Celtic related of all shades of opinion. Its a blog afterall.
HH.
Benkovic is out.
Boyata is out, and should have been booted out the door post AEK AWOL.
Happy to see Jozo and Kris form a partnership for the remainder of the season to bed them in for CL qualifying.
corkcelt,
that was an excellent post.
footballers are humans after all, and all the frailities that comes with that.
————————–
CORKCELT on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 2:20 PM
That is the natural eco system of a Football Squad, players grow old, players get injured , players want to move on, graduates come through & we bring in fresh blood, things never stand still, some players will delight us others disappoint us but the Team goes on. At the end of the day it’s all about silverware & entertainment. So far we are having a glut of silverware, that won’t last forever either but we live in hope.
It is then a matter of Brendan & his team re assessing what we havecas
big fat derek johnstone
“paul67 making a statement of freeimg up time for the blog is like a new signing”
Celtic just need to concentrate on winning the domestic treble every season and make gradual progress in Europe .
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 4:56 PM
Anyone else notice that when one troll pops up a few others appear shortly thereafter?
Amazing coincidence?
==============================
I know Paul67 doesnt post much, but thats a bit harsh. ;-)
Jobo
Talking of football bets, I am tempted by Dundee at Hamilton. They do seem to regularly beat the Lanarkshire team.
Currently Dundee are 9 to 5 against and there is 23/10 for the draw.
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she’s got it coming
But she gets it while she can
come on the hoops
this league is going to sweet
P67- as some Bhoys have said, a it more interaction would work,hope the changes are of your own making. HH
The spine of the team , at least , needs to have some degree of permanence about it . The goalkeeping cover seems adequate , CB area is a problem with Jozo’s injury record. Kris will have come on leaps and bounds by summer , although Jack will unfortunately not get the game time he requires through missing out on loan time. Therefore , at least one ‘oven ready’ CB required in summer. Defensive mid we have Broony but may not have Kouassi (who may be off in summer) so One ‘oven ready’ DM also required. The striking positions seem stronger but we will also have a better idea once we have seen more of Bayo and depending on Griff’s availability.
Good news we may see more of Paul67, on the pages. Always lent weight and purpose to the debates and of course the lead article.
I’ve gone from sycophant to cynic but still have great appreciation of CQN.
Worth saying a thanks to the moderators while Paul67 was less active… a necessary if thankless task very well undertaken.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 4:31 PM,
For me extending contracts of performing players is like a new signing.
It would have been good to get Dembele and Boyata extended… I know that was a one time plan.
You never mentioned the Griff… did you forget our lost bhoy or do you feel that, that particular extension was a mistake?
Hail Hail
Great sesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPNeU8PqX2g
we’re gonna stuff killie this season
the month of Celtic dropping points starts on Sunday! prepare yourselves for some disappointment and a reality check for most! the facts don’t lie – our back up defenders leak goals galore. No boyata, No Benkovic, no chance …..unless we score 3-4 goals.
There is a chance of the latter with the firepower we have – I just sense a rocky month ahead
I’ve always thought our defence and midfield options were sufficient to keep us in games and that our struggles have been positions 9 and 10 fora year. Happy with the January transfer work done.
Celtic things I didn’t know till five minutes ago thanks to academy;
Youth Cup semi draw – dons v sevco, celts v queens p. U19s called up for two games in Spain next month – Church, Deas, Henderson, McInroy, Aitchison (no Welsh? Maybe he’s overage). No18s v morton tonight – weather. Youtube highlights 4-1 win v thistle available.
I do expect Celtic to drop points this month. To expect to get 9 points from our visits to Perth, KIlmarnock and Tynecastle is a big ask at any time. To do it in a month that we have a European head to head only adds to the difficulty. Howeeeeevvvvvvvahhhh, I still expect us to be at least 6 points clear 1 month from now.
Jobo
Spot on… we have no devine right to not drop points in February 2019 (I don’t think we will :-) but am pretty sure our nearest challengers “will” drop points … strong windae and the champions usually kick on after their wee winter jaunt to Dubai
One game at a time Jobo. I always feel if we turn up we win. The Plastic & the long grass add a different dimension but there comes a stage in a season when Champions flex their muscles and get the big results, I sense that this is our time to do just that.
Corky- agree
JOBO BALDIE
With the attacking options available now we should be able to score on all those opponents.
Play with an attacking mindset and press high.
If they don’t have the ball in our final third it will be hard for them to score.
We have to stop giving credence to sides who would struggle to have one of their players in our team..
Our tentative style to often emboldens them.
Paul67 one of your better blogs
———————-
corkcelt on 1st February 2019 2:20 pm
Corkcelt, An excellent post. (hat-tip)
————————
To some of the others, i would suggest
You don’t have to attend every argument that you are invited to !
HH
CHAIRBHOY @ 5.35
Thank you, knew I’d missed somebody from the list.
I cheekily included Scott Brown as a January signing to make 8 in another post.
Loans are the same as short term contracts, they work for their money, and are ‘not a project ‘ © GB especially with the level of injuries modern players seem to suffer.
Brendan decided to with Boyata, to blank interest in the player because he knew there was no plan to replace him with somebody inferior, as good, or better. There was nothing other our best CB of the season just finsished heading off to the world cup, and cheerio I’ll think about a contract later.
BR then gambled on loyalty from the player and we know what happened when he returned and intimated via his agent he was off for ‘the big money’ and running down his Celtic contract. No chance for Celtic unlike the Armstrong situation who was rightly or wrongly, given and accepted a years extension with the promise of Southampton later.
Dedryck will be viewed cynically by the Celtic support as a ‘toys out of pram type guy’ BR will have him back in the side ASAP because IMHO he thinks Boyata as do many other supporters, consider he’s our best CB warts n all. Boyata will retrieve his toys, tout suite in time to put himself in the Parkhead Bosman window of summer 2019.
I was told from an impeccable CQN source that last summer BR phoned in Moussa Dembele’s exit, after the deadline day training ground strop, previously agreeing with the board on the day before, that Lyon’s bid, be rejected.
All history now whether it’s a bombscare or a ghod, if they say they are off, then they are off.
Hope your Chilterns thaw and your chalk streams gang free.
HH
celtic plc, buy the emirates and toryglen.
remt it bak to the cooncil. charge market rates.
use the facilities when we want.
diversify. become a landlord.
——————————
COUNCILLORS will next Thursday be asked to formally approve a cash offer to Glasgow’s equal pay claimants.
It is the next step in reaching a settlement in the 12-year battle for women workers to receive compensation and pay parity with their male colleagues.
A report that will go before members of the City Administration Committee was published today.
It will ask councillors to approve a deal that will see key Glasgow buildings sold and then leased back.
It has now been revealed that this will include: Emirates Arena, Riverside Museum, SEC Armadillo, Scotstoun Leisure Centre, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, City Halls, Toryglen Football Centre, Gorbals Leisure Centre and Bellahouston Leisure Centre to become part of the City Property portfolio.
In addition to asking councillors to approve the deal, the report outlines how the settlement will be funded – with some of the city’s property assets to be used to unlock loans.
Council leader Susan Aitken said she expects members to back her deal.
She said: “I’m delighted that we have agreement with the claimants and to be able to recommend to my colleagues a deal that finally delivers pay justice for thousands of women in our workforce.
“After a decade going round in circles in the courts, we have reached a fair settlement through twelve months of tough but open and honest negotiations.
“This report is our opportunity to put right a wrong that has damaged the council, its workforce and the city for too long.
“I trust that every member will want to take that opportunity.”
The paper, which will go to committee on Thursday, February 7, also includes further detail on how the council plans to meet the cost of the settlement – seeking authority to use property assets to secure loans.
Wholly-owned arm’s-length company City Property Glasgow Investments LLP is currently engaging lenders with the aim of refinancing a loan originally taken in 2010 – releasing significant additional value due to a growth in the value of its assets and more favourable interest rates.
It is also proposed that the council will sell a significant further portfolio of operational buildings to City Property and then lease them back at a commercial rate.
The purchase would be funded by long-term loans, with the lease payments meeting the annual cost of the borrowing.
Crucially, this means the buildings would remain in the city’s ownership and users would not see any difference in how they access them on a day-to-day basis.
Discussions are still ongoing with potential funders.
Ms Aitken said: “I’ve always been clear that, although settling equal pay has been about delivering justice for thousands of the women in our workforce, meeting the substantial cost of doing that must be fair for citizens.
“Releasing the potential of our property, while keeping it in the city’s ownership, protects services and the future of these valued assets.”
Claimants could receive compensation payments from as early as June this year.
celtic plc.
buy hampden.
charge current users mega rent, force them out. knock it down. sell the land,
diversify kill off those who hold us back.
porters 5 forces in play.
—————————–
Hampden: Scottish FA deal to buy stadium has stalled
By Chris McLaughlin
BBC Scotland’s sports news correspondent
3 hours ago From the sectionScottish 95
Share this page
Hampden Park
The Scottish FA’s lease on Hampden Park expires in 2020
The Scottish FA’s deal to buy Hampden Park could be in danger of collapsing.
The governing body agreed a £5m deal with owners Queen’s Park in September, after discussing moving to Murrayfield.
The agreement was due to be signed off last month, but negotiations have stalled, with one source describing talks as being “completely deadlocked”.
One of the key stumbling blocks is a refusal by Glasgow City Council to waive a floating charge unless it has a say on how the stadium is run.
It invested around £2.6m into the redevelopment of Hampden in the 1990s on the proviso it would have representation on the board of Hampden Park Ltd (HPL), the body set up to run the stadium.
Scottish FA agrees to buy Hampden
Purchase is start of Hampden ‘journey’
‘Scotland should move around grounds’
The Scottish FA has yet to form a new company or entity to replace HPL but has told the council – which has the power to block any deal – it will not be allowed a seat at the table.
Council bosses also want assurances on the future of the National Football Museum, which is housed at Hampden, but so far the Scottish FA has yet to offer any.
BBC Scotland sent a list of detailed questions to both the SFA and Glasgow City Council and both parties provided short statements in response.
The Scottish FA said: “Discussions between the Scottish FA and Queens Park FC regarding the final terms of the deal for the sale of Hampden Park are ongoing. Deals of this complexity require time and effort and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to conclude the transfer of ownership of the stadium to the Scottish FA following the expiration of the lease in June 2020.”
Glasgow City Council said: “We have been in discussions with all the partners involved. However the deal is between Queen’s Park and the SFA and it is not appropriate for us to comment on that. It’s not clear at this stage what the management arrangements will be, however we are ready to partner with the SFA in the management of the stadium and the wider development of the area.”
That dispute is not the only issue. Queen’s Park want to continue playing their home matches at the National Stadium beyond season 2019-2020, but the Scottish FA wants them out by the end of next season.
The Scottish League Two club fear the delay in getting a deal done will impact on their ability to redevelop Lesser Hampden.
It is understood around £3m of the money received from the sale of the stadium will be used to develop the area close to the National Stadium.
DILLIGAFBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 5:18 PM
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 4:56 PM
Anyone else notice that when one troll pops up a few others appear shortly thereafter?
Amazing coincidence?
==============================
I know Paul67 doesnt post much, but thats a bit harsh. ;-)
****
I needed a good laugh today. Thanks.
:)
More ineptitude from the Strong Rangers Association. Why am I not surprised?
Can’t think why GCC wouldn’t just let them get on with things and do what they want. Such an open, transparent, trustworthy bunch of people!
MinT
They are not trolls, more like dismal jimmies
Ron
I am not going to be too hard on the trolls and /or mineshafters …
particularly, as, given my views on our Board, I think a good percentage on here would likely count me as one!
:)
Brendan’s Presser
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/midfield-tweak-brings-sixcess/
Struggling to break down a well organised opposition, Rodgers made the half time changes to alter the flow of the game. McGregor and Christie did the rest.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 6:20 PM,
Yes, thought you night have missed him… only pointed out as after his break was announced, some suggested the extension was a mistake.
I’m sure Celtic would have been aware of what Griff was going through and they had a duty of care… I’m sure the contract could have been written to protect everyone… hope to see him back, as and when…
Yes the Summer CF2018. We need to put it behind us, every so often someone wants to come on and stick it to Brendan…
It’s not the way I see it, for me, as I’ve oft said, the issues in our transfer business are systemic.
A big challenge awaits us in the Summer but the more immediate challenges on the pitch are much more exciting, we seem to have a squad that are hungry and capable.
I’ve never been against loan signings persee, in fact back in the day folk like Bellamy and Keane gave us something extra… something we couldn’t afford. My issue is when they are plugging a number of gaps, rather than enhancing a crucial position or a looksee before you buy type deal.
The Chilterns are indeed thawing:)) Kinda got used to this place though miss the land of the lochs, rivers and waterfalls… we had a name for the river that runs through this town… we called it a burn;)
Still, only a stones throw from the Thames so can’t moan too much…
Have A grand, winning weekend.
Hail Hail
Loans ?
Anybody else wondering why Brendan is bothering about the young Americans & Maryan (sic) surely he isn’t interested in their Celtic futures if he isn’t going to be here … according to some :-)
Body language CSC
I look forward to the remainder of the season.
I am confident that we will go on and hopefully win the Treble Treble.
What concerns me is the summer and possible UCL qualification.
If we don’t qualify I can see KT being sold to make up the shortfall.
We will likely go into qualification needing to replace our new Right Back., our 1st choice Centre Half partnership and hope The Griff is back by then.
Now that is concerning
Not sure if this is a Friday booze delusion –
was P67 in an interview with DJ where he said ‘I don’t recognize that club!’ about that new club?
Anybody gotta link?
mineshafter, malcontents or realists? for Celtic not to solve defensive problems is simply negligent! all we needed was 2 match fit, proven defenders. We could loan and we have the money to buy. A big gamble and too many fans getting carried away with recent easy runs at home. stupid stupid people if you think that defense can hold up under pressure in away games. history has already provided BR and the board with indicators – 2 windows later we still have not fixed it. Now we “hope” the loan RB can get up to speed and Ajer and Jozo have significantly improved ……….while sitting on the bench!
Rugby time approaching. Even those of you who don`t like the egg-chasing game might want to watch the pre-lims tonight just to listen to the best two, IMO< anthems in sport
.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
GFTB on 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 7:15 PM
Loans ?
Careful…you will have …ahem…mud slung at u for suggesting that. :)
HH