We’ve known for a while the strategic alliance Celtic have had with Manchester City, but how we have burrowed into the France international youth setup is, frankly, highly unlikely for a Scottish club.
First came Moussa, then Olivier.
Olivier Ntcham (21) will have known Moussa Dembele (21) from the French youth setup, and Patrick Roberts from their time at Man City. How both flourished at Celtic last season was a prime motivator for the player to head north.
With Olivier and Moussa flourishing in Glasgow, Brendan Rodgers was able to convince a third French youth international, Odsonne Edouard (19), to come to Celtic. We are now an attractive destination for players graduating from one of the world’s most productive international academy environments.
Edouard is here on loan. Celtic have the option secured with both Paris Saint-Germain and the player to turn this into a permanent transfer, should he developed as hoped over the next season.
The story is a little more complicated than just this, however. Odsonne was convicted of shooting someone with an air gun in July and given a suspended sentence. This, frankly, is grossly irresponsible and a suspended sentence is one of the better outcomes for Odsonne. Whatever influences were in his life leading up to this point, a new course needs to be taken in Glasgow.
I have no doubt that this conviction thinned the heard of some potential suitors, unprepared to take the risk on him. He has a year to develop his potential and set himself a new course. If he does, Celtic will acquire a remarkable talent for what in the current market, is a snip.
Patrick Roberts back on loan means that we have retained all first team players from last season, while augmenting the squad with several others. Patrick agreed terms to join permanently, but Manchester City were not prepared to let him go. They, like many others, believe there could be enormous potential on Celtic’s right wing this season. What happens next summer is too far away to contemplate with any certainty.
Jonny Hayes now looks third choice for the right wing slot, but he’s more likely to be utilised as backup for Scott Sinclair on the left. While Patrick Roberts was pursued throughout the summer, we were always going to have to wait until City made their decisions. This left us with only James Forrest for the right wing position for the qualifiers – and James is no stranger to injury. Jonny was available early in the window, so was an appropriate acquisition.
Kundai Benyu (19) arrived from Ipswich after a season on loan at Aldershot. Like Hayes, he can cover for Sinclair in left mid.
Rivaldo Coetzee (20) is the one that got away. He would have competed with Kristofer Ajer for the fourth central defender berth. With Simunovic fit, and Boyata and Sviatchenko both back from injury this month, there was no chance of us splurging big on a central defender. A strategic purchase, like Coetzee, was another matter.
The litmus test for any transfer window is, did we come out of it better than we went into it? Such outcomes are seldom evident the day after the window closes, but having retained all, and added such potential, we have delivered.
What we need to do now is develop Ntcham, Edouard and the others, win the league, perform well in the Champions League, and solidify our position as a club where outstanding talent will flourish and succeed. This is what success looks like for an economically disenfranchised giant in a highly dysfunctional industry.
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I didn’t see the game tonight. My sausage didn’t work and hasn’t for the last couple of games. I suspect it is being blocked by BT. Pleased Scotland won and delighted it was because of the Celtic work ethos. The permaragers will be even mare ragin noo :-))
And I must agree with DD…I think his future is with Hibs and not with us….
Tony Rome @10,15
Exactly same. Hairs on the back of the neck stuff.
Almore
Definitely let me know as Johnny O B is torturing people.-) Even more so than normal.
HH
GERRYFAETHEBRIG.
I would like to apologise if you were offended by my comment the other night ,there was no intention to do so that is not my style if I have something to say I will be straight and not some snidey comment.
You are one of the posters I enjoy reading and your love for the wee blade and your family clearly comes across.
I also know very well Mags McGill is a guy ( but sometimes a bit of a f—y). I read the blog every day but do not post too often, keep posting positive about our great team and your family. HH
M7
I was happy for the boys tonight, delighted if the truth be known, they were a total pleasure to watch, was like watching Celtic cruising to a well deserved win.
Just can’t change the way the sfa and the smsm make me feel.
HH
agree with DD that LH will never be a Celtic player, who would he replace, I hope he moves on and finds his level
M7
Brendan has family from Scotstoun and Knightswood. I went to Saint Tams with his cousin. He knows the score in this city. We have a wily fox in charge.
Paul67 et al
Well done Scotland and well done our Bhoys. Not always been the case in recent years, but we will also benefit from these Internationals, our experience works both ways. Scotland still in with a bit of a chance, for now at least.
THE EXILED TIM on 1st September 2017 10:28 pm
I can’t argue with that
TET 10.23pm
Think this time last year Dorus had the goalie jersey so Craig not in the picture
Not got a clue why Gordon doesn’t even have Callum in the squad, he has proved many wrong, probably in years to come WGS will mean stubbornness in the dictionary, a great positive result for Scotland and am delighted “our” players will hopefully add a win against Malta on Monday back to lennoxtown with them, Broony again magic but I sort of understand Paddy Roberts loving wee KT…. I also love the wee mhan…. a superstar developing in front of us …. not many youngsters stroll through international games out of position after a couple of really bad injuries, this bhoy is a star
night night all
TET
Echoing my sentiments.
Despite the SFA, corruption, SMSM and the Masonic cabal – I’m Scottish and still want the team to do well.
Makes it all the sweeter when any success is driven by the current Celtic philosophy.
CELTIC MAC
I agree, when we are up against better inter teams it helps us when we play better teams in europe.
Everything has a knock on effect.
HH
PPJ55 Always the gent my old pal. Hh
lets hope the scotland result helps us in the weeks ahead hail hail.
Delaneys Dunky on 1st September 2017 10:29 pm
M7
Brendan has family from Scotstoun and Knightswood. I went to Saint Tams with his cousin. He knows the score in this city. We have a wily fox in charge.
We have indeed, my family’s roots are in Waterfoot, a short hop from where Brendan was raised, my mother was ecstatic when I told her the new Celtic manger was from Carnlough
MOONBEAMSWD. 835
“I want to grass up BMCUWP from the outset for organisational inefficiencies”
Aw,Ffs. I thought 11/11 was a weekend when you didn’t have your lad round?
has anyone else noticed KT looking a bit knackered in some games recently!! Hope the young bhoys body is being respected. he has played a ridiculous number of top games for a wee bhoy.
Papajoe55 10.27pm
Don’t be daft, not one bit offence taken, I sometimes post stupid things and sometime type before I think, hopefully I only respond and would be annoyed at myself if I fall out with somebody “typing” on a blog
My response to your post was only because I was in the 6.34am train to Queen Street with nobody to talk too :-)
Get posting more
Long time since i was bothered with a Scotland result,
but if WGS keeps picking the Bhoys and plays that way my interest will be renewed,
good to see no injuries to any of our players as well
bhoy’s even
I try my best Gordon ,it’s a great time to be a TIm. I was thinking last night when we signed Odsonne to add to Moussa and Olivier of three guys from one country playing for a top team in another country, cam up with Ridkaard Van Basten and Gullit , oh to dream hope you are well my old friend. HH
Gerry
Aye, young Kieran is special, had Izzy not been injured when he was KT might well have not got his chance and he could have been punted elsewhere , you never know the twist of fate, we were blessed, when you hear huns praising the bhoy, you know :-)
HH
………………………..
M7
He read a beautiful eulogy in Saint Ninian’s Knightswood, a couple of years ago, at his uncle’s Requiem Mass. We are lucky to have Brendan.
HH
Hi Bhoys
A few tunes before bed.
Chris Rea – Texas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akl6adjwtbM
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Stop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiPLOmTp6IA
Alabama 3 – Power In The Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IglsuPyHLY
KEEP THE FAITH
Great start to the day.
” We`ll support you evermore.”
Gutenberg
If there are Celtic players in the scotland team I want them to do well, if not….
As I have said many times I find that so sad, but I honestly can’t see me changing my views.
HH
this is a joe mcbride/willie wallace moment think french we are the famous celtic glasgow hail hail.
Was thinking today after BR explained the transfer window logic – since he joined I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with anything he has said. Is it just me???
It’s not normal…
Probably the most enjoyable watching Scotland experiences in quite some while.
Possibly because we played like Celtic for the most part.
Delaneys Dunky on 1st September 2017 10:41 pm
M7
He read a beautiful eulogy in Saint Ninian’s Knightswood
That was my Parish, and still my mothers, it had a great priest when my sister got married there and I gave her away (1990), he had a very modern outlook on life which was a surprise for Knightswood and the demographic
Gordy
You had Scotland 3-0 on in Wullie Hills. :)))
Classic soul music on BBC4 with Jools. Hh
TET
I’m not at your stage yet. My nationalist tendencies still want me to see Scotland do well, with or without Celts in the team.
AULDHEID
When watching the game the thot crossed my mind that Broonie and WGS had come to the decision that they would play like Celtic, Broonie sort of hinted at that after the game, why change a winning system, as I said earlier, I bet WGS has a fair few regrets.
HH
M7
Father Bennett?
Gutenberg
I have been like this for many, many years mi amigo, I am surprising myself going as far as wanting the scottish team to do well whatever :-)
HH
I must admit to ambivalence when it comes to Scotland…because of the long time corruption at the SFA and the favouritism shown to ‘you know who’, I have taken great pleasure in watching them getting skelped (sorry Jobo). However, when the team has 6 of our players representing it, then it becomes difficult to not wish them well. After all, imagine how the huns viewed that game tonight…Oh, I know they will tell you they preferred to watch the England game , but that’s a lie. They were watching Scotland, praying our players would perform badly and that Scotland would be thrashed…so, for those reasons, well done Scotland! We’ll support you evermore…(well, it depends, doesn’t it?) :-)