With a raft of defenders leaving the club this summer, the rebuilding process has picked up pace. Dedryk Boyata, Filip Benkovic, Mikael Lustig, Emilio Izaguirre and Cristian Gamboa all departed. Confirmation arrived yesterday evening of the signing of Rapid Vienna’s Belgian left back, Boli Mbombo, 24, on a four-year contract.
He joins central defender Christopher Jullien, 26, so as it stands, left back and central defence are looking appropriate for the impending challenge of Sarajevo, but with only Anthony Ralston at right back, more work needs to be done.
The first deadline for the Sarajevo tie is at 11pm tonight, although Uefa allow one late addition to be made to the squad one day before the first leg.
Mbombo should be a lower risk signing. He has played for two years in Austria, a comparable European league to the Scottish Premiership, and being Belgian, he will have excellent English and will have no problem adjusting to life in Scotland. He has also played over 150 games, far more than most of our signings in recent years, so we will have good scouting reports on him.
Depending on the fitness of Boli and Kieran Tierney, Jonny Hayes may yet be utilised at left back on Tuesday, but the Irishman will hopefully be deployed in more familiar midfield positions going forward.
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Come on Mbombo !
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/boliwood-bhoy/
A back up or a new first choice left back? Bolingoli-Mbombo’s signing is destined to be double-edged for Celtic supporters. But the Bhoy deserves to be judged on his own merits. Here’s his story so far.
Unfortunately, it does look like Tierney will be off this summer. Very tough one to take!!
Hopefully pistol Pete can get us 40m between Tierney and Ntcham. Put 12m towards Barrowfield development and spend at least 28m on the team. Jullien (7m), Boli (3m), Perraud (3m), first choice right back (5m), back up right back (2m), Turnbull (Jan – 3m), Harper (free….although prob 1m signing on fee) and young striker (5m).
TRADITIONALIST88 on 4TH JULY 2019 12:02 PM
Unsettling was the word used by the manager, and not referring to the fans.
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KT is doing injury rehab away from the team (as he would). Fail to see the crisis.
TIMALOY29 on 4TH JULY 2019 12:25 PM
I think he was referring to KT only, and no one said anything about a crisis, of that I’m pretty certain!
HH
Paul67
The more we pay in transfer fees the less the risk.
No more squad fillers please NFL is busy getting rid of the last managers’
We want quality CSC
TRADITIONALIST88 on 4TH JULY 2019 12:27 PM
I think he was referring to KT only, and no one said anything about a crisis, of that I’m pretty certain!
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I suppose I don’t see the issue with KT being a “bit unsettled” when he isn’t likely to play anytime soon.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 4TH JULY 2019 12:39 PM
The more we pay in transfer fees the less the risk.
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No evidence to support that.
Moussa Dembele £500k
Kouassie Eboue £3 million
Tim
Yes there is and there are millions of examples of why good players, cost more money
Ask Arsenal if they prefer KT or Boli?
What is likely to happen with the Sevco game.
Currently Saturday 31st August at 3pm.
Will it move to Sunday at noon or Saturday at noon?
Cheers
TIMALOY29 on 4TH JULY 2019 12:55 PM
I suppose I don’t see the issue with KT being a “bit unsettled” when he isn’t likely to play anytime soon.
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Fair enough, but its not like a switch he can just flick off when hes fit again.
If you consider that Lenny is saying its unsettling for the player and what this actually means in reality, its fair to say it wouldnt be a surprise if he wanted to go. Of course, there are different degrees of unsettled…and lengths to which players can go to achieve their aim, if indeed it is their aim, to depart.
Maybe KT isnt fully decided, other unsettled players will claim homesickness, then there are the likes of Boyata, Cadete and Di Canio.
Unfortunately in all scenarios it generally ends the same way.
HH
*Unfortunately in all scenarios it generally ends the same way.
With the player leaving, and not necessarily in a ‘trade’ with Regi Blinker.
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 on 4TH JULY 2019 1:06 PM
Fair enough, but its not like a switch he can just flick off when hes fit again.
If you consider that Lenny is saying its unsettling for the player and what this actually means in reality, its fair to say it wouldnt be a surprise if he wanted to go. Of course, there are different degrees of unsettled…and lengths to which players can go to achieve their aim, if indeed it is their aim, to depart.
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English transfer window closes on the 8th of August. Just over a month.
Either he goes before then or he focuses on Celtic when it’s clear he’s staying. This isn’t going to drag on all season.
It’s unlikely KT would be fully fit for the first two rounds of CL qualifying anyway. His focus should be on rehab and coming back to fitness. Nothing else to focus on until a bid is accepted.
You forget that KT is on a 4 year contract. That’s very different to the examples you referred to. Celtic have all the leverage and will only sell if they want to. His agent will have made that clear to him.
FRAMBO11 on 4TH JULY 2019 1:05 PM
What is likely to happen with the Sevco game.
Currently Saturday 31st August at 3pm.
Will it move to Sunday at noon or Saturday at noon?
4th Europa League qualifying round, 2nd leg is on Thursday 29th August so if either team is involved, the game would not be played on the Saturday. But nothing is certain yet.
Hope the move here works out for Boli Mbombo. The most encouraging aspect since his name emerged is the absence of injury issues. As far as I’ve seen anyway.
Paul67 put out an interesting piece on 2nd July re. David Turnbull. Reads like a club response to the Gordon Waddell narrative from last weekend. No comments added because it’s category is Other.
There were a similar couple during June, one by Tom Murphy. That’s Tom, not Tim. Fingers crossed we’ll soon read one by Aloysius McGrory.
Can I say from the start I have no idea if KT is staying or going or even if he is unsettled and wants away or is being forced out the door. What I do remember is that Celtic have previously stated that they would never stand in the way of a player moving on to the EPL or wherever for better money, bigger team, new challenge etc.
When bringing in new players part of our attraction is that we offer young talent the chance to shine at a higher level and exposure on a European level to attract attention from “better” leagues. It would seem to me that if we do this for foreign players we would allow the same to apply to homegrown talent too.
Perhaps Arsenal tabled their bid and the decision was made to let KT and his agent know it had arrived but that it was not acceptable to Celtic. KT is kept in the loop and doesn’t find out about interest from EPL, which he may or may not be interested in, from the media. The player is told we want to keep him and only if a bid large enough to satisfy Celtic is received would we consider letting him choose if he wishes to enter discussions or not.
All of the above is purely my opinion, maybe KT is being pressured into leaving I certainly don’t know and I suspect few if any on this site do either.
hrvatski jim
Thanks for that, I hadn’t factored that in.
ffs,
thote when i was decanted frae the Brigton tenaments tae Easterhoose in the sixties,I had left behind an ancient tradition of life up a close,
Seems it has been revamped and brought up to date on this blog:
The Transfer Windae Hingers !!
HH
Marcelo asks to leave Real Madrid are Arsenal interested, view from Spain (though no evidence its nothing but a flyer) is that they are or may well be
Does anyone else think this unheard of spending frenzy is being done in the knowledge that KT will fund it?
Burghbhoy
i think that is the underlying theory behind it all, though im not sure PL would be comfortable with spending money first before hes taken any money in.
Personally i think this is the best time for a large overhaul as it allows us to tinker with the squad in the coming years, as players ultimately move on to richer climbs
BURGHBHOY on 4TH JULY 2019 1:42 PM
Does anyone else think this unheard of spending frenzy is being done in the knowledge that KT will fund it?
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The Brendan Rodgers compensation has pretty much paid for the spending so far!
Hello again all you young rebels.
SHUGGIEBHOY 67
Ye olde windae hingers were a priceless piece of tenement life
where all the local gossip was passed from windae tae windae.
Many a thug or thief was spotted and cut down just by those
wonderful wifeys.
One aul Irish windae hinger spotted a young 12 year old Melbourne
Mick getting his baws booted from a drunken hun while he was
returning from a Celtic match, word got to my wee da and his brother
in minutes.
The hun never booted anyone again, he wasn’t able to.
Bringbackwindaehingers.com
H.H Mick
TIMALOY29 on 4TH JULY 2019 1:23 PM
No one is saying the situation of KT is exactly the same as players like Boyata, Di Canio, Cadete etc etc.
Circumstances are different in every case.
Incidentally the following were all under contract to Celtic when they were described as being unsettled and eventually kicked off: Boyata, Dembele, Di Canio, Cadete, Viduka, Van Hooijdonk.
Difference is KT won’t do the same but it is affecting as per the manager.
Just because hes injured doesnt mean we shouldnt care. He wont be injured for long and is expected back full training within 1-2 weeks.
HH
At one time there was usually a debate, at this time of year, on this site about supporting other Scottish clubs in Europe.
I’ve just had a wee look at coefficients and that. Our starting point this year, in the first qualifying round, is based on the best five years up to 2018. 26th place. next year little will change but Scotland have moved to 20th place. The benefit of two teams picking up reasonable coefficient points.
Here’s the thing. A similar jump this year will result in a move to joining at third or fourth qualifying rounds and even a place for runners up!! That’s assuming no change to the access lists.
So do we support ALL Scottish teams as it helps us out big time!!
KT became unsettled when we failed sign Paddy Roberts.
FACT. That I just made up.
KT deserves whatever is best for KT. Nothing on this or any other social media outlet will influence his thinking.
I’m happy to wait for official announcements, or none.
De Vries retires….another pi$$ take of a transfer…..
OWEN
Good post, nobody really knows apart from Kieran and close
family,
A lot of it is just noise, and of course the arses are trying to
unsettle him.
What if kieran is just saying to himself, ” i shouldn’t need to come
out and say i’m staying , i am Celtic and the fans should know that ”
Anyway thats whats keeping me optimistic.
H.H Mick
QF
I will happily support all Scottish teams in Europe, but not
the ones from neverland.
H.H Mick
OWEN on 4TH JULY 2019 1:29 PM
Agree with Melbourne Mick. A very good post which just about sums it all up.
Cheers and HH.
TRADITIONALIST88 on 4TH JULY 2019 2:02 PM
Incidentally the following were all under contract to Celtic when they were described as being unsettled and eventually kicked off: Boyata, Dembele, Di Canio, Cadete, Viduka, Van Hooijdonk.
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None of those players had four years left on their deal. It is a very very important distinction.
When Celtic have a key player they want to keep they will offer a long-term deal. Sometimes they sign it and sometimes they don’t. The ones who don’t sign the extension (Dembele, Wanyama, Virgil etc) are sold before the contract runs down and the fee decreases.
KT at 4 years is a different proposition to Celtic. They could sell him next summer for a similar fee.
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“Just because hes injured doesnt mean we shouldnt care. He wont be injured for long and is expected back full training within 1-2 weeks.”
Returning to full training isn’t match fit. This issue will resolve itself by the 8th of August at the latest. He won’t be fit by then.
NFL’s comments don’t particularly worry me about a guy I don’t expect to see on the field
“It can be unsettling but he’s been okay.”
Paul 67
Hoping that one of our left backs will be fit, so that Johnny Hayes can operate in a position further forward ?
Hmmmm
Hoping one of our left backs are fit, so Johnny Hayes can resume his rightful place on the bench.
There… sorted that statement for you.
TIMALOY29 on 4TH JULY 2019 2:25 PM
Once again, no one is saying the situations between the players mentioned are *exactly* the same.
You used the word crisis when no one else, not even the MSM, have. So not sure what your angle is.
I’m not sure who said returning to full training equates to match fitness, but when he returns to full training he will be with the first team. Having an unsettled player can cause issues day to day (eg. Dembele), not just on matchday when you might happen to be in attendance.
FYI only the English transfer window closes on 9th August, others are open longer. So it will not necessarily be resolved by 9th August.
IVEHADTOCHANGEMYMIND
Reading back you said you were looking for a good summer read.
By luck, I found the following thriller by Sandrone Dazieri in a charity shop.
It’s called ‘Kill the Father’. Couldn’t put it down!
I’ve since read his follow up called ‘Kill the Angel’ which is as good if not better!
A big Hoopy welcome to Boli but always remember Big Jules Rules!
Hail! Hail!
Terrymac
Brendan Rodgers coaching set up was so effective at enhancing the performance of the players at his disposal that any perceived weaknesses in his transfer dealings were rendered less than significant.
Keep it real CQN.
HH
With Aberdeen signing a guy from Manchester Unites and us getting guys fro Belgium and France, this made me smile:
” Thai Super League champions Buriram United have opened talks with Rangers about signing forward Kyle Lafferty. ”
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Trad88
“Having an unsettled player can cause issues day to day (eg. Dembele), not just on matchday when you might happen to be in attendance.”
I don’t believe “It can be unsettling but he’s been okay” is close to the full Dembele meltdown
Only an English club has made a bid. So anything else is pie in the sky right now.