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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After all it’s fifty two weeks since the Dubs won the All Ireland
Ivehadtochangemyname: Did you see my response to your poetry question? I left it around 5pm yesterday.
Great great pass by lustig
HasTGM resurfaced? Anyone know him in real life? Chase him down and get him back
Jamesgang: I still haven’t got over that.
great almore, I’ll check back
CelteeeeeqBinge bloggers beware,……………………..
ffs””””
but ….
WITS
Fantastic game at Croke Park , really enjoyed that final !
Hi Almore
just what I was looking , go raibh míle maith agat – labharta freisin , go hiontach.
Mike
our fav Italian opens west end next week will rekkies asap
rekkie(s)
check oot
Sweden 3-0 up at halftime to go top of their group at this point with France, Holland & Bulgaria chasing them
Anybody think their right backs legs have gone :-)
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 3:53 PM
Holland v Bulgaria odds at bookies roughly 1/4 home team and 10/1 away team, Holland have 10pts the Bulgars 12pts…. think I might put a quid or two on the away team at that price
Yi must have too much money :-)))
Their MINCE btw
Burgas Hoops 5.58pm
Betting is a mugs game and never take my posts seriously….
Although it’s only halftime :-)
Holland 1 Bulgaria 2…. ????
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
They could be there tae next Sunday and no score two goals :-)
MIT 5.37.
These times of woe afford no time to woo.
Where art thou Green Man? :-)))
Hail Hail
Gerryfaethebrig.
Bulgaria 40/1 in running.
Hail Hail
The West Awake , The West Awake .
JNP 6.10pm
Hopefully am just a bit daft but not too stupid, and after Burgas Hoops saying they won’t even score one !
my post re Bulgaria was just stating the fact they were 2pts ahead of a team but were 10/1 before a baw was kicked….. didn’t expect anybody to listen to me :-)
These are Great Celtic times, as Gerry says. HH
LTJ Bukem has dropped it in a mix.
Celtic Fantastique.
Gerryfaethebrig. 6.16.
I get what you are saying.
On the face of it 10/1 were large odds for a team who had just beaten Sweden.
Hail Hail
Celtic’s development squad have six league fixtures postponed already this season to fit in six UEFA Youth League Group games and three Premier League International Cup games. All to be played before the end of the year.
I see no reason why we can’t gather sufficient bodies still at Lennoxtown during the forthcoming international breaks in October and November to schedule two or three of the outstanding league games. Sure, it’d be a young group playing twenty year olds but I’d go along. Better than following any international team.
Bobbio / Almore
It was perhaps an overly enthusiastic ticking in to shared chips that led to my disgrace with the great one…..
HH jamesgang
Tucking even!
Delaney’s at 1.21 this morning, re Ryan’s favourite player being Tommy Johnson Tommy scored our second in the 2000 leage cup final and our league winning goal the following year . Good reasons fe him being Ryan’s favourite player.
Cosycornerbhoy, thanks for the reply about Boabby Evans. My dad refused to support the Scotland team due to the treatment of our players by both the SFA and some Scotland fans. I could never understand his attitude but as I grew older , I understood his reasons.
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/paean-for-paddy/
Thankfully the window is shut and Paddy is back! Here is what we have missed for 11 games. HH
I’m off to see the Lions of Lisbon at the Eastwood Theatre .
I saw it last May in Rutherglen and was excellent.
If the show is on at a venue near you, go and see it . Its very funny.
I will be in bon Friday be4 Hamilton game any cqns going to game
opps should have been bv
wot does hebcelt think score next friv Hamilton be is he going for a 5 0
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 4:21 PM
GERRYBHOY
The Guardian article made pretty much the same point.
I’ve obviously spent too many years down south,where prices back up my point.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-house-price-index-hpi-for-june-2017
Yes, well, I have lived in SW Germany for almost 40 years; before that, 5 years on French Riviera and 5 years in London before that, so I do have an idea about house prices. Have been assisting my daughter to buy in Glasgow and think it is a doable goal. She is renting at the moment but after our first grandchild arrives in early October, we hope to finalize a deal :))
Been catching up…..
AoW my sincerest condolences to all on the passing of your mother-in-law Peggy…..may she rest in peace
Dallas….how long is the show running? It’s just up the road from me ;-))
Brother (TGM) where for art thou? ;-))
H.H.
♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬
I try to discover
A little something to make me sweeter
Oh baby refrain from breaking my heart
I’m so in love with you
I’ll be forever blue
That you gimme no reason
Why you make-a-me work so hard
♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
And if I should falter
Would you open you arms out to me
We can make love not war
And live at peace with our hearts
I’m so in love with you
I’ll be forever blue
What religion or reason
Could drive a man to forsake his lover
♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬
Don’t you tell me no
Don’t you tell me no
Don’t you tell me no
Don’t you tell me no
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
I’m so in love with you
I’ll be forever blue
That you gimme no reason
You know you make-a-me work so hard
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
That you gimme no
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me
♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬
Same here
AoW sincere condolences.
Bournesouprecipe. 7.24
Are you Vince Clark or Andy Bell? :-))
Hail Hail
Closer
to
awe
yer D-Reams
Celtic Majestical.
BSR
It woulda been easier to post this ;-))
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5pwzy-oVx7k
RespectCSC
H.H.
JIMMYNOT
I’m Vince Clarke
THELURKIN
Gets better every time you hear it