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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TONYDONNELLY67 on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:12 AM
OOOOOOOFT!
https://johnjamessite.com/author/sitonfence/
——————————————————————————
I’m always wary of the info on that site, Tony. However, it seems obvious that with the soft loans handed to them there must be a reckoning at some point. Sadly, whatever rules need to be broken for them will continue to be broken. Was it ever any different?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 4TH SEPTEMBER 2017 7:53 AM
BIGJIMMY
COSYCORNERBHOY was the poster. I think you have his phone number.
I’ll let him know you’ve got dibs if it’s still available.
……………………………
BMCUWP,
No I havent got his number ?
if you let him know mate I’d be grateful.
HH
The Celtic
Olivier – Ownage.
Nae French Centre Backs out there?
NATKNOW
I am too, but it has to come to a tipping point soon they haven’t a Kurdy,no overdraft, no sugar daddy, no audited accounts, acting like high rollers week on week in, it’s a recipe for disaster, they haven’t a pot to piss in, or a window to through it out, and long may the hurt continue.
When are we expecting Moussa to return?
MWD
BIGJIMMY
Sorted,bud.
MOONBEAMSWD
End of the month,I think. Maybe in time to play his favourite whipping boys.
Moonbeamswd on 4th September 2017 9:51 am
When are we expecting Moussa to return?
MWD
…………………………………………
When Moussa is fit he is better than the Brilliant Leigh G.
CELTIC is Good.
Cheers for the tickets, yer a star.
BOBBY – Moussa took the piss right out of them in that midden :)
Loved it.
The Celtic Way
Perfecto.
Listen up and Listen Good.
PSG are getting it.
Rascar – maximum respect.
PETEC
And in ours,too. Hunskelper!!!
Don’t know if anyone else posted similar but the French result last night shows how good Luxembourg are at football now and the result by the pallet burners wasn’t such a disaster after all
Coming to a football phone in or succulent site near you very soon
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS,
Winning without fighting.
CELTIC
Europe is a different kettle of…..
I cannae see CELTIC conquering such corruption.
What do I know though. ;))
The Celtic Way
Petec anyway.
FORAPEOPLEANDACAUSE
Pretty sure someone mentioned last night a similar comment on hunmedia.
FWIW,I agree. We dodged a bullet by avoiding those rising giants of the game in our qualifiers.
Btw,as an aside,The Faroes Islands have 8 points in their group. And even Andorra have 4. No wonder I struggle to get a fixed odds up!
Just had a look at the Luxembourg team. As far as I can make out none of the starting eleven play for Progres.
Nor any of the subs. Some are listed in their team profile as Luxembourg so doesn’t mention a club side.
Rangers (sic) are in talks with Portuguese champions Benfica over a glamour friendly – the annual Eusebio Cup – in Canada next month.
———
Gee – that was a real pi$$er qualifying for the Champions League. That could have been us!!!
That’s a real shame we are missing out on European friendlies in North America.
:-@((
MWD
Quick daft question.
When was the last time a team who didn’t wear red and white won the Dutch League?
Financial Fair Play investigation opened into @PSG_inside by @UEFA. Statement: sportsintegrityinitiative.com/financial-fair…
Glad to see Brendan speaking out on the Paddy loan deal.Hopefully puts to bed the stories that the Board would not back him.It follows on from Brendan discussing the Centre Half transfer,saying there was no one available that he would have brought in to play his style of football.Would not sign anyone just for the sake of it.The search goes on.
Just thought I would mention it as the ones who were doing the loudest protests about the non backing from the Board,are strangely quiet on the real facts.
The Huns only being asked as they have a large following in Canada.Sponsors decision.
Turkeybhoy
Never mind the facts,never mind what Brendan says
He was stabbed in the back by a penny pinching board and we all know its true
He will leave in January…thats obvious by reading between the lines and studying his body language,notice the way his left ear twitches…thats a sure sign of a knife in the back sometimes referred to by its medical term as biscuitinitis
Anyone got a spare ticket for the All Ireland football final?
Up de Dubs
BMCUW
That was in 1963/64
iPhone CSC
BMCUW.
Team called DWS.A shirt like Inter.Early 60s.
That awkward moment when you accidentally punch yourself in the eye trying to get socks on.
onwards CSC
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
SOUTHOFTUNIS
Correct. Mentioned in a comment about De Boer’s impending doom at Palace.
Maybe in forty years they’ll be wondering when was the last time a team not wearing green and white won the Scottish League.
Or twenty,if you exclude titles won by cheating!
BMCUW.
Remembered from a long ago quiz in A boozer called The Red Lion. A post work watering hole many moons ago.Parliament St.Nearest boozer to 10 Downing St. .
Almore did you get one last week
3 seats beside me in the Hogan empty I was fuming
All quiet on the cheating front……….developing story, nada (par for the course),res 12,JR ????
dontcallus csc
Canada..the home of glamour -less and meaningless friendlies…
new article posted.