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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BMCUWP’s, the only reputation Davidopoulos has to maintain is that of a shandy drinker!
:-)
seen this on twitter
Glauber Berty @GlauberBerty Aug 29
More
Interested to see how Ntcham does. City have an option to buy him back for £7m (Summer ’18), £9m (’19) or £11m (’20). #mcfc #celticfc
HmmmmmmmmmmCSC
HOT SMOKED on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 1:34 PM
Bada
Do you think Mikel is as good as he was two or three years ago?
JJ
——-
He’s not lost much of the pace that he didn’t have too much of to start with.
I take Embramike’s point that we may sooner rather than later see a tipping point as age starts to catch him up.
But he surely HAS to be regarded as much more effective this season and last compared to previous as he’s had so much better a run of fitness.
HH jamesgang
DOC
Don’t you worry, I’ve learned my lesson…
It’ll be a half pint of lager in a pint glass with a glass of lemonade on the side in future…
DOC
A wise decision from the young man. These enlightened times tell us that alcohol is to be taken only in small quantities.
I’m delighted that the young lightweight has taken this health advice on board.
Btw,the last time a bloke in my company asked for a shandy,he was telt he could get that himself.
LEFTCLICKTIC
Aw,hope not!
Btw,thanks for that clip,mate. Pyoor dead funny.
LEFTCLICKTIC on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 4:01 PM
seen this on twitter
Glauber Berty @GlauberBerty Aug 29
Interested to see how Ntcham does. City have an option to buy him back for £7m (Summer ’18), £9m (’19) or £11m (’20). #mcfc #celticfc
Celtic delighted to sign highly-rated Olivier Ntcham on 4-year deal
By: Newsroom Staff on 12 Jul, 2017 11:00
CELTIC are delighted to announce that Olivier Ntcham has joined the club on a four-year deal from Manchester City.
Think it’s a typo …
Last time Davidopoulos asked me to buy him a shandy it was a straight”naw” there may have been an expletive and the Wimbledon CSC isn’t used to that behaviour:-)
Gotta fly!
embramike says ” Yer team’s deid…Beat it!”
Thanks for that,found it strange myself.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
don’t know how many times I have watched it and laugh every time :)))))))
Till later all
The Herald must think they are clever, with their headline about Odsonne vowing to gun down PSG.
OK for a internet bampots to have a bit of punny banter but you’d expect better from a newspaper but then again maybe not.
Can we tie Brendan down to a 20 year contract?
These French bhoys are not here because it’s Celtic, they are here because of Brendan and what he can offer to their development
BABASONICOS71 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 2:42 PM
TURKEYBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 2:29 PM
Yes,it is.I still think the Hip Ops have affected him.
===
Is Mikel a rapper? ;)
Mikels With Attitude csc
SMILEY.
LEFTCLICKTIC 421
Me anaw. I posted it earlier,but what the hell,why not?
https://mobile.twitter.com/6inaRowHereWeGo/status/902684469752147968/video/1
Weird thing is,it’s not even the pink knickers that’s the funniest bit-usually that would be enough!
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6113888.stm&ved=0ahUKEwjn6fWHqYTWAhWLLFAKHS6GAAkQFggkMAI&usg=AFQjCNHL3zuS54ueu1CkawvhTc1OdWiQJQ
A shotgun charge…
!!Bada Bing!! on 1st September 2017 4:40 pm
Screenshot before thats swiftly removed…
HH
Jamesgang
Let me say first of all that I rate Mikel Lustig highly.
My overall point, though , was that I feel he is not the player he was. I remember saying to someone that Mikel could play for ANY team in Europe and not look out of place ( Well he would have looked out of place with Sevco but you get my drift). I don`t feel I could say that now.
Let me conclude by saying : I rate Mikel Lustig highly.
SplitinfinitivesarenowallowedCSC
JJ
I hear you JJ
As is almost always the case, I don’t think I’d differ much from you view.
HH jamesgang
Lustig is a good solid pro but when you compare flanks he’s not performing at the same level as Tierney and I do think he’s lost a yard or two, as well as a bit of confidence on the ball. Where Tierney has the ability to drive defences back Lustig is getting the ball near the last third and turning back the way. Long term planning is needed, the club can’t go the way we went post MON. There needs to be an ongoing recruitment plan and player turnover. Not sure if Ralston is the long term answer.
Hello everbody peeps!
I am heading to Hamilton for a race day tomorrow-any tips would be very welcome or should I just stick with my trusted way of picking “third letter R” ?
HH
mods and non-religious- hope you don’t mind me posting bout the following
cardinal cormac murphy -o’ connor has died RIP
a man, whose failings and failures I was well aware of but whose love of others was clear to all!
Mikael Lustig?
Plant a beachball on his napped,and he’ll be fine.
It’s Friday it’s five to five it’s ………….
Gents and hopefully some ladies,
It’s been a good blog today. Various opinions put civilly.
We listed some of the beneficiaries of the transfer window yesterday, medical professionals, legal professionals etc, etc. But we missed out linguists. ( Possibly the most famous one is currently based in Manchester)
I was listening to footie channels and Various “big ” clubs had their people based all over the world in anticipation of potential deals.
It’s not so easy just going to unfashionable leagues and plucking potential players for a song. We are competing in scouting terms with much more resources in trawling the same markets. The only difference is that we will put them in the first team, whereas others may loan them out.
Where we can compete and excell, is in our first class training facilities and the quality of our coaching and player management.
HH.
Looking for a Celtic Bar in Benidorm for the
Hoops I mean scoddish game.
Any suggestions welcome.
KLV
ST holders are reminded that the CL package deadline is extended to 4.00pm Saturday
Bada bing (@4.40) is a grass
HH
Apparently Bruno Alves was unable to play for Portugal because of a dose of the shits. You would think he would be used to dealing with shit by now. How many games has he played for Sevco ???
BSR
Kev J WILL be pleased :-)
Deuchars time for me.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Leigh Griffiths is 20/1 to score from outside the box.
Hmmmm CSC
The far away box? :-))
GREENPINATA on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 4:58 PM
But we missed out linguists. ( Possibly the most famous one is currently based in Manchester)
===
When did Chomsky relocate?I’d heard he liked The Smiths and The Roses but didn’t realise the depth of his obsession. ;)
BSR- Seen that, worth a cheeky wee fiver
just on and skimmed through quickly, and didn’t see TGM posting ….
I generally respect TGM’s posts, so I hope he is just taking a day off and/or lurking, and will get back to posting soon ….
does CQN have an official song? If not, it should …. for today, how about this one by Dionne Warkwick? … when you are singing along (cause, you know you will), feel free to substitute CelticQuick News for “the World”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cW8Alo_5uI
:)
On a scale of Willo Flood to Olivier Ntcham how satisfied were you with Celtic’s summer window?
Just wanted to pop on here and commend BMCUW for being brave enough to post that video of himself with the ice creams and the pink pants ;-)
KEVINLASVEGAS on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 5:01 PM
Looking for a Celtic Bar in Benidorm for the
Hoops I mean scoddish game.
Any suggestions welcome.
The hurler next to the presidente hotel is a good Celtic pub
HH