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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Delaneys,
unfortunately not ,
my day was taken up with Paw Patrol at the Armadillo
Gordy
Nae luck. You need to learn to feign injury.:))
DD
Offer re programme for your mum still stands.
Delaneys Dunky on 1st September 2017 10:51 pm
M7
Father Bennett?
It was indeed, my brother in law is English and COE, but Father Bennett made it easy for them and us, my main memory was the wedding rehearsal where he had me doubled up, it made the wedding day so much better and more relaxed, definitely not old school
look you ghuys celtic is still a scottish team with irish. roots so if relands team is winning. great if scotlands team is winning great.hail hail
A couple of live tunes
https://youtu.be/_ffIO2l-lTA
stay free
https://youtu.be/cZPSZYPHYtQ
A bomb in warsour street
WBC
That was a Brendan Rodgers Celtic performance tonight.
Thought Stuart Armstrong and Broonie were near perfect.
Ooops
wardour street
A wee piece for our French bhoys…and forTGM–hope you’re chilling sir…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fuIMye31Gw
must say how .refreshing to see no arguments on the blog. where is the green man.
DD…didn’t manage to see it but heard willie miller et al praising Stuart and Broonie…
World cup next year, France are a stick on IMO, they way they destroyed Holland last night was quite scary, if they don’t Hibs it that is :-)
M7
I remember when I stayed in Temple and Saint Ninian’s was my parish. Early 90s and the Celtic were on the telly on Sunday 12.30 kick off. Father Bennett said mass in 20 minutes. I was home for kick off. Great man of his people who loved him.
The combinations from the Celtic players tonight gave me my most enjoyable Scotland experience in a long time.
Tierney, Forrest, Tierney, Armstrong, Forrest, Griffiths in the first half then second half, Brown, Armstrong, Brown, Griffiths drop short back to Armstrong who gives it to Matt Phillips who only goes and fecks it up with over hit ball to Griffiths, ah well room for improvement.
Another 2 assists for the Griff, what a star as is Tierney, play him anywhere!
weebobbycollins on 1st September 2017 11:03 pm
DD…didn’t manage to see it but heard willie miller et al praising Stuart and Broonie…
I didn’t hear it tonight, but Willie Miller is not shy in giving praise when it is due
Playing catch up, but have to say. QF at 10.18 I totally agree on WGS.
The man has nothing but praise for Celtic. He also served us well.
Hail Hail to wee GOrD.
Just thought I’d ask, as I do not see Liam getting into our midfield, at 6ft and with a good footballer, could he be converted aka, Nir and Kris ?????
And
We need to breed our own Centre Half, who would be long term with us
If rumours are true, Jozo and Erik will be with us until Jan 18 or summer 18 at latest and it’s start again.
Brendan will be planning now for 2018.
Back to FtSFA
I think Broonie should be concentrating on his Celtic career and forget about FtSFA team ??
COWIEBHOY
I think Liam has the attributes but we will never see it at Celtic.
I hate when posters say a youngster is not Celtic class when we have not given that guy a chance.
I shudder to think we probably would not have KT if injury and suspension to others had not conspired to give him a prolonged period to prove himself.
Circumstances often play a huge part in career development.
Liam i think was beyond the youth coaching remit when Brendan arrived and had been out on loan for 2 seasons and was in an unsure position.
The fact we have an abundance of midfielders all ahead of him made his task practically impossible.
I think he still has a great career ahead of him if he finds the right environment to showcase his talent and build his confidence.
Another point
I think we will see a better Mikael Lustig no way with wee Paddy back in front of him :-)
Scotland playing at Hampden `75ish.
The hun crowd at the hun end start chanting for either Willie Johnston or Willie Henderson to be brought on .
Right away Willie Ormond replaced Jimmy Johnstone with one of the above to joyous celebration from the peepil.
Can well understand why some Tims take a jaundiced view of the Scotland set up.
Mind you ,that was `75 ish.
in brendan we trust but c.b. please brendan we trust you.
Cowiebhoy
We can only speculate, we don’t see the players in training, but you could have a point, he has no chance of getting into our midfield, I always thot that Efe should have played in front of the defence, never seen him there to judge him, maybes he was tried there in training and it didn’t work, who knows.
I agree about Broonie 100%, I wish none of our players were selected.
HH
TET
France are about to conquer the globe.
Brendan signing French shows he knows the score.
Vive La France. Auld Alliance.
Fan-a-tic
Trying to look at options to reduce the current Churn ( wrong terminology ?) we have at Centre Half, for this we need to bring our own through ?
Brendan is trying with Nir and Kris, and has moved Calvin to Left back
Who else do we now have coming through ?
Jamie McCart ?
Delaneys Dunky on 1st September 2017 11:07 pm
M7
I remember when I stayed in Temple and Saint Ninian’s was my parish. Early 90s and the Celtic were on the telly on Sunday 12.30 kick off. Father Bennett said mass in 20 minutes. I was home for kick off. Great man of his people who loved him.
I was married and had moved away before he arrived so I never knew him as a Parish Priest, but my only experience of him was very positive. St Ninian’s tended to have the older more straight laced priests before then, with the exception of Father Mone, latterly Bishop Mone, who was the first Priest I ever thought I could relate to
Magnificentseven
Willie Miller is an Aberdeen legend but was brought up a big hoops fan.
Delaneys
The French have sussed it, the kids they are bringing through are the bogs dollix, I have no idea what they are doing differently, but whatever it is it’s working, and thankfully we are in on taking a few of them to develop, Brendan has a reputation that he wants to uphold, folks know this, as long as he is at the club we will get these kids, some will work out, some may well not, but it’s only good for us, big time.
HH
M7
My gran Delaney took Deacon Mone into her Knightswood home when he left college. Small world.
just logged on to a website with homes in my village lowest price cant say. my parents would me mortifed.
my village glenboig. please help.
TWISTS N TURNS on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 9:42 PM
6 bhoys in the side. Anyone have any idea what the record is for players from one club in the Scotland side?
*don’t know about the record but I mentioned a couple of days ago on another subject that over in Bratislava in a WC game there were 6 of the deidco in the side that was gubbed 0-4.
For the 2nd game against the Czechs Dunky MacKay, big Billy and Paddy Crerand led the home side tae a 3-2 victory and a play off berth where the SFA returned tae their usual scheidt replacing alice scott with inside left ralph brand instead of the named back up winger Stevie Chalmers and Scotland lost after extra time.
TET
I read about the Le Havre youth set up. Impressive success rate.
Gutenberg on 1st September 2017 11:19 pm
Magnificentseven
Willie Miller is an Aberdeen legend but was brought up a big hoops fan.
I didn’t know that but probably not a surprise when you listen to what he has to say
M7…WM’s view is usually balanced and fair (except when it’s Aberdeen) :-)
Macjay @ 11.13…also when the SFA or Ormond picked Ronnie McKinnon and Ian Ure over big Billy…outrageous then, now and always?
DELANEYS DUNKY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 11:25 PM
M7
My gran Delaney took Deacon Mone into her Knightswood home when he left college. Small world.
==============================================================
I served his Mass on the Lady altar in St. Paul`s Whiteinch.
So there.
Pre – Jock .
:-)
Gutenberg
I was told Willie Miller was a Brigton bluenose, by a Brigton bluenose who grew up with him???
Macjay
The world is shrinking and I love it. :)
Delaneys
Aye they sure do, but what are the French doing differently that produces weans like they are ?
HH
I was always under the impression that Willie Miller was brought up a hun, not that it matters, in saying that I would be delighted to hear he wisny :-)