I heard earlier this transfer window that the club didn’t expect an offer for Moussa Dembele. There was interest a year ago, but a year of injury, then a fresh injury at the start of this season, convinced all that the player would be with us until January, at least.
When Real Madrid invoked a buy-out clause for Lyon striker Mariano on Wednesday, the French club were prepared to throw a lot of money around to buy a replacement, and their primary target was Moussa Dembele.
There are millions of euros at play here. Agent fees alone would be in seven figures, while the contract available for the player would dwarf anything Celtic pay. In addition, they were prepare to offer Celtic a lot of money. So what do you do?
Celtic were not planning to sell Moussa Dembele, just as they were not planning to sell Kieran Tierney in July. The club gave very clear messages to Lyon that they would not entertain a bid. Note Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas’ comments “I know the boss at Celtic well. He is basically like a bulldog who negotiates after yapping.”
The assumption in Lyon was that after Peter Lawwell’s “yapping” there would be some negotiation. Lyon expected Celtic to roll over, but Celtic did not bite.
The choice was to pocket the money without buying a direct replacement (as it was too late), or reject the offer. The sale was not even considered, by the manager or board. As we saw three weeks ago with Boyata, Celtic do not need the money, what they need is talented footballers.
It was right to reject the offer. Not just because we need players more than money, but because if we fold under player pressure, we will only encourage more ‘sore back/not the right frame of mind’ scenarios when contracted players are tapped up during a qualification campaign.
The football business is incredibly unstable. We contract players, who, if they succeed, will soon be able to earn millions of pounds per year more than we will ever pay them. You either sell when the big offers come, or turn your face to stone and sell when you are ready.
I don’t know if playing hardball this month will stop this happening again, but folding would guarantee tantrums every time a player receives an 80€/week offer. We could be sitting this morning with all the money in the world, but a little light up front. That’s not the plan and never has been.
The first piece of business today was the signing of central mid, Youssouf Mulumbu. Youssouf’s career came off the rails when he broke his metatarsal weeks after joining Norwich three years ago, but a cameo half season at Kilmarnock convinced Brendan Rodgers to move. Welcome to Celtic, Youssouf.
Let’s get Filip Benkovic signed up, and spank Newco back into their dystopian existence on Sunday. Oh, and Malmo and Sarpsborg would do nicely in the Europa.
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The question now has to be — when does PL leave?
We are now well used to his continual poor performance and lack of leadership and direction.
We are used to his regular shambles as he delivers chaos from a position of strength.
How much more damage does he have to cause before his position becomes untenable in the eyes of the board specifically our absent landlord — aka DD the Irish Raj?
The base problem with Pl is that he is not as clever as he thinks he is.
And he is not that good to start with — second rate property sector bean counter with no self awareness and a complete lack of both a business brain and a growth agenda.
He has a 2D intellect in a 3D world.
It is very easy to rationalise why we have failed over the past two months.
Basically PL is not up to the job. That is the best way to understand his incompetence.
The more uncharitable viewpoint has him as a bo weevil working from within.
I don’t do conspiracy theories in the morning S o to me he is just not up to it.
We are in a poor position this morning.
Lots of rebuilding to do.
Everybody needs to up their game.
One thing to remember …
PL and his failed Moneyball project emptied the LL upper.
BR with his vision and his supporter engagement
Based on the various reports of the transfer fee agreed between Lyon and Celtic for Moussa Dembele, it would appear that Celtic are the ONLY British club in the recent history of the transfer window to announce a PROFIT of almost £20 million and a lessening of their overall wage bill…
https://thecelticstar.com/celtics-first-ever-profit-making-transfer-window-new-high-financial-tims/
HH
… filled it.
Are we taking Steven Caulker from rat faced McCann at Dundee???
D. :)
I had a gut feeling when Eddie signed that MD would be sold. He wouldn’t have been negotiating and cleaning out his house if Celtic had flatly refused to sell. The announcing of the centre half at the end of the window was, in my opinion, an insult to our intelligence. He had trained with the team yesterday. I’d say PL is thinking of hotel revenue. He’d better be careful or he’ll have trouble filling the top tier never mind hotel beds. Hail Hail.
Gooooood Morning CQN – ???????
Can I start, no idea what all the excitement is about a game tomorrow- we are playing a 6 year old club, whom far too many on here do not recognise a single such.
I should add including our board.
Chairbhoy @ 06.15 @ Medtim. @ 08.25, very good points for us Celtic football team fans
Not sure our PLC will see it like that
Lawell has again delivered exceptional finance results, they will like that.
Like many others, I think we have created our own fuster cluck, of both trying to qualify and improve the team this transfer window.
John McGinn – I seen as potentially Scott Brown successor, deal should have been done
Aston Villa, got taken over end July, money put into them, they matched Celtic offer to Hibs for John, and apparently offeredhim £23k per week
For me he wasn’t worth that, as a back up to Scott, may have been in a season or 2
Benkovic – Celtic been trying to sign for 2 seasons, Leicester paid £13m to then loan out- could we afford a £13m player and wages that come with it ??
Moukouda, young CH at le harve, again we were interested – Aston Villa, again come in last few days offering £10m deal for Jan, and take on loan
Should we be paying £10m for an unproven 20yr old CH ?
We are operating in a different area, this signing window has been a disaster, very very poor by many parties, be that board room, scouting etc
We Must learn from this, unite and do much much better
We know what is needed come January, let’s get it sorted for then
Gooooood Morning CQN – ???????
Can I start, no idea what all the excitement is about a game tomorrow- we are playing a 6 year old club, whom far too many on here do not recognise a single such.
I should add including our board.
Chairbhoy @ 06.15 @ Medtim. @ 08.25, very good points for us Celtic football team fans
Not sure our PLC will see it like that
Lawell has again delivered exceptional finance results, they will like that.
Like many others, I think we have created our own fuster cluck, of both trying to qualify and improve the team this transfer window.
John McGinn – I seen as potentially Scott Brown successor, deal should have been done
Aston Villa, got taken over end July, money put into them, they matched Celtic offer to Hibs for John, and apparently offeredhim £23k per week
For me he wasn’t worth that, as a back up to Scott, may have been in a season or 2
Benkovic – Celtic been trying to sign for 2 seasons, Leicester paid £13m to then loan out- could we afford a £13m player and wages that come with it ??
Moukouda, young CH at le harve, again we were interested – Aston Villa, again come in last few days offering £10m deal for Jan, and take on loan
Should we be paying £10m for an unproven 20yr old CH ?
We are operating in a different area, this signing window has been a disaster, very very poor by many parties, be that board room, scouting etc
We Must learn from this, unite and do much much better, we know what is needed come January, let’s get it sorted for then
Hail Hail
NORRIEM
With Kouassi being shown the door, we’re still looking for Scott Brown’s successor:((
That’ll be a matter of some urgency I would imagine by the end of this season..
Oops Caulker is a free agent now
Go get him Brendan and developed the bhoy
D. :)
Some real absolute dross being churned out on here since last night.
“Does Dave King have something on PL”,Jesus wept.
“Worst transfer window ever”.Really?.We got £ 20 million for a guy with serious hamstring problems,who was ready to down tools.
We brought in an excellent CH,maybe only on loan,but who will help us to No. 8.
We brought in an excellent midfielder,who cruised through the SPFL last season.
We now ,for this season,have a solid looking defence.A better midfieldand Griff and Eddie up front.We have a Paddy replacement in Arzani,and a red hot prospect in Morgan.Let the manager now get on with his job.I have no doubts we will get the 8th.After Brendans latest quote about himself and the Board,the only people not happy,and wanting further problems are the malcontents in the support.I get great joy watching Celtic.They get theirs stirring the shit.
C,mon the Hoops tomorrow.
NM @ 10.25
It is happy flappy tripe like that …
… that keeps PL in a job.
Moneyball works.
Just a case that PL doesn’t have the cojones or the vision to work at this higher level.
What we have until January,
1 Scotland GK Craig Gordon
3 Honduras DF Emilio Izaguirre
4 Scotland DF Jack Hendry
5 Croatia DF Jozo Šimunović
6 Israel MF Nir Bitton
8 Scotland MF Scott Brown (captain)
9 Scotland FW Leigh Griffiths
11 England MF Scott Sinclair
12 Costa Rica DF Cristian Gamboa
14 Australia MF Daniel Arzani (on loan from Manchester City)
15 Republic of Ireland MF Jonny Hayes
16 Scotland MF Lewis Morgan
17 Scotland MF Ryan Christie
18 Australia MF Tom Rogic
19 Scotland MF Scott Allan
20 Belgium DF Dedryck Boyata
21 France MF Olivier Ntcham
22 France FW Odsonne Édouard
23 Sweden DF Mikael Lustig (vice-captain)
24 Netherlands GK Dorus de Vries
26 Zimbabwe MF Kundai Benyu
27 Democratic Republic of the Congo MF Youssouf Mulumbu
29 Scotland GK Scott Bain
33 Germany DF Marvin Compper
35 Norway DF Kristoffer Ajer
42 Scotland MF Callum McGregor
49 Scotland MF James Forrest
56 Scotland DF Anthony Ralston
63 Scotland DF Kieran Tierney
65 Northern Ireland GK Conor Hazard
73 Scotland FW Mikey Johnston
88 Ivory Coast MF Eboue Kouassi
— Croatia DF Filip Benković (on loan from Leicester City)
DAVID 66,
The story is it was arranged.He can now join.Has to be worth a punt,even if he only trains for a couple of weeks,and Brendan gets to really speak with him.
Ooooos sorry about that ?
Other items
JimmynotPaul commented through the week about disharmony in dressing room, and was hounded
Does this Boyata and Dembele situation show he was right ?
In my view dembele had to go, he would have been no use, injured until Jan.
I think Boyata will go in Jan
There is 2 positions we need to sign in Jan
There are quite a few others, whom we would like to have moved on who are still there – others in Scotland cannot afford the packages they are on at Celtic
Clear the decks Brendan – and get the quality you want to see
PPs – Ryan Christie is not a Centre Forward, should be competing with Rogic for no10 position
Turkeybhoy 10.32am
Hard to disagree with any of that. In terms of reputation or public perception, I think the window should have been better handled but in terms of the outcome, I agree with your summation. Brendan handled his presser really well yesterday. Time for him to get back to work on the training pitch.
Two 11’s from that you could have,
Gordon
Benkovic Boyata Ajer
Forrest Ntcham Brown Tierney
McGregor Rogic
Edouard
or
Bain
Lustig Jozo Hendry Izzy
Mulumbu Bitton
Johnston/Morgan Christie Sinclair
Griffiths
Madmitch
I am not saying what I posted on PL was right
( for me he has failed massively, for us as a football team this window)
But for a PLC
How has he performed ?
Are they interested in Celtic as a football team ?
Someone posted last night that Stevie Clarke had said something controversial. Does anyone know what he said?
Looking at the squad,Brendan has loads of options in attack tomorrow.
Forrest,Mikey,Sinky,Eddie,Griff,Rogic,With Broony ,Ollie,Calmac behind them,and KT storming forward.A lot of options there for goal at any time.
MadMitch on 1st September 2018 10:34 am
NM @ 10.25
It is happy flappy tripe like that …
… that keeps PL in a job.
Moneyball works.
Just a case that PL doesn’t have the cojones or the vision to work at this higher level.
——————–
I don’t think we’ve used moneyball theory for our transfers, unless moneyball theory in football in different to baseball
Turkeybhoy Cheers, I agree, got to be worth a punt
D. :)
The transfer window was a disaster and highlighted the fault lines at the club. There is no unity, only factions.
Obviously everyone will now spin that all is well etc but the reality is the manager will walk at the end of the season and we start again. No doubt we’ll have P67 on later telling us what a wonderful piece of business it was to get £20m for a guy with hamstrings made of glass and that Mulumbu and Benkovic are masterstrokes and then have a wee dig at Sevco.
What will not be explained to the support is why we failed to have a striker lined up for when Moussa inevitably left. Why a centre half wasn’t lined up to replace Boyata and allow him to be sold. Why the manager only got 1 of his 3 transfer targets when he thought all 3 were done deals. Why we went into CL qualification with half our first choice defence lying on the beach and no replacements. Why do we never build on success.
We will win the league this season i’m sure, but forget trebles, even doubles, and forget Europe post Xmas. We’re not good enough, on or off the pitch.
Turkeybhoy, seriously? Stronger with a free agent we could have signed in May and a centre half who will be off before next season’s Euro qualifiers. £20 million to add to the £30 million in the bank. How does that help real supporters who are afraid we’ll throw away the league. The manager clearly said he needed 3 strikers. It’s been a disaster of a window in terms of how it’s been conducted and the impact all the internal discord has had on everyone’s morale. Sweeping statements criticising those who have highlighted the debacle on here don’t change the facts. Hail Hail.
David 17,
I hope Benkovic shows up well at training today.He has been training and played recently.If Brendan takes the chance,I think your 1st team is the one we will see.
Come the bhoys
Let’s put the over confident Hun fuds back in their box
Let’s resume natural order ?
D. :)
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY
There was a link posted to it last night,which I can’t locate.
The gist of it is here.
https://www.footballparadise.com/steve-clarke-criticises-strange-and-inconsistent-outcome-of-dicker-appeal/
DAVID17 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 10:34 AM
High on quantity, low on quality (in particular areas)
I expect Desmond,to follow Lawell out the door sooner than later,ok our finances are really good,but our recruitment is dreadful,as for Desmond,he tells Lawell what to do,and he takes all the flak,,but I suppose when you are on good money,then you do as you are told,not that Lawell needs much encouragement,after all he was employed as a Hatchet man with Clyde Port,were a lot of workers lost there jobs,so he has no scruples,he like plenty in this planet , only know one thing, Making Money,and to hell with everyone else,as for the Absent Landlord,he is a disgrace,never there,so good riddance,if you decide to leave,hurry up,as for Brendan Rodgers,well.we know how this will end ,if we don’t win the league.
“We want to come out every transfer window stronger than we’ve gone in”
That worked well, significantly weaker now than we were when we lifted the cup in May.
Must say I am surprised that we didn’t offload a few fringe members of our bloated squad, Compper, would be difficult but Allan, Benyu, Kouassi & Ralston would surely be marketable for loans or sales.
If Benkovic is a success this window may not be the disaster that is being painted.
Boyata has looked very good last 2 games and a back 3 of Boyata, Benkovic & Ajer could make us very difficult to defeat.
We are already very strong in midfield but Mulumbu gives us something different, he has the skills but also a bit of brawn which we need in the SPFL.
Obviously up front is the problem area, we are down to 2 recognized Strikers so we need Griff & Eddy to stay healthy & in form.
There are a few possible hidden gems in Arzani, Morgan & Johnston & whilst you can’t Bank on any of them you are always hopeful that one or more of them could turn out a brammer.
Christie looked very good when he came on against Sudova, thought Sinclair looked like he was coming back to a bit of form as well, Izzy is a much needed back up to KT, Bitton should be back soon & we do have established stars in Brooney, Nt’Cham, McGregor, Rogic, Forrest & Tierney.
In short we have a big squad with plenty of talent, you always hope for more and indeed we will be demanding more come January but in the meantime there is no need for all the doom & gloom.
Celtic Reddit .
Hope the author doesn`t mind.
Posted byu/BhoyzNTheHood
3 hours ago
Now that the dust has settled…
I’m pretty — king pleased with the team we have going into this season.
We brought in cover at CB and, judging from his stellar showing against Suduva, Boyata is past his wobble (for now) and willing to put a shift in.
We secured Rogic on a long term deal, took a prospect in Arzani and put up the big bucks to sign French Eddie.
Aye, Dembele threw his toys out the pram. People forget that for many parts of the last two seasons we only had a single fit striker and, guess what, we still ran the show. Dembele is made of chocolate and, despite what some are saying, isn’t the fucking messiah. Griffiths put in a FORTY GOAL SEASON before being sidelined. That’s some firepower to have sitting about the bench.
By that same token, Armstrong was hardly vital to the team’s success last season. I still rate him highly, but we learned to work around it when he was missing.
Our strength lies in the consistency of the squad as a whole. A squad that remains almost entirely unchanged.
Is it 100% ideal? No, but I don’t think that was ever a realistic expectation. I’d have loved to see cover come in at RB, but I trust Lustig to hold the fort in the season to come. Its really not the end of the world lads.
For me, the only real disappointment is missing out on McGinn. That would have been a fantastic bit of business almost guaranteed to turn a tasty profit in the long run. Even then, we have strengthened the midfield with Mulumbu who looks a fantastic player in his own right.
What is absolutely — king vital now is that we rally and get behind the boys. Just look at Rangers, who are in party mode on the back of an objectively average start to the season (basically meeting the bare expectations of a club their size).
We have a lot to be excited about and a very doable European campaign ahead. We have the best manager and squad in Scotland by a country mile.
Being the best support means through the peaks and through the troughs, and let’s be honest we were long overdue a trough.
COYBIG
BEAMISHMYPINT,
Stronger?Where did I say that?You have a problem taking in what you read?
we lost Dembele.Nothing we could do about that.We brought in a very good CH,who to me at the moment was more important than anything else.Mulumbu,was one of the best midfielders in Scotland last year,and has a great pedigree.Stronger?.Who knows.On the Dembele thing.How many CL qualifiers did he play in the last 3 seasons?With Eddie and Griff,and his continuous hamstring problems,not the loss many making it out to be.
Sorry.
Missed one of the expletives.
In slightly different news
Thought this would amuse
HM Revenue and Customs’ reported policy of blocking people from getting honours if they are found to have avoided tax has been backed by Sir Vince Cable.
Celebrities who use lawful but controversial schemes are being “blacklisted” to protect the reputation of the honours list, says the Times.
A Freedom of Information request showed a traffic light system was used to identify an individual’s suitability.
GARY 67.,
Weaker now?OK,thats your opinion,but please explain your reasoning.
I assume that the consequences of CL failure is that the CEO doesn’t get his bonus or do we reward failure too, and don’t give me the new shirt deal argument.
DAVID 17
Plenty of full internationals in that squad. On paper we should still walk the league .
Surprised you didn’t put Azani in one of your teams. The kid is very good and when he gets his fitness up to speed he will be hard to leave out.
BobbyMurdochsCurledUpWinklepickers
Many thanks Bobby for posting the link. Much appreciated. It will be interesting to see if the SFA punish him for the criticism of Columbia and the panel.