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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Bada
I don’t bet but if I did I’d be having some of that
PleaseBetResponsibly CSC
Hope that CQNs fairly limited band of Scotland fans will be keeping this temporary TurkeyBhoy updated later. With good news I hope.
Baba … as a fellow chomsky fan (I had the pleasure of meeting the great man once …I was dumsstruck ) … have you seen these garden gnome chomsky’s … I have one … guaranteed to keep raccoons, skunks, tories, and other varmints out of your garden …
http://www.justsaygnome.net/gnomes-noams–oms—products—ordering.html
M in T
He is probably knackered after his marathon posts yesterday. It is certainly much quieter on here today
Bsr,
Extended till 4pm tomoz?
Was that not always the deadline?
HH
This has probably been covered already, but…. the last time we were in a European final was 2003. I remember, painfully, that we did not win the treble in 2002. We lost the Scottish Cup Final to a hugely inferior, but nevertheless financially-doped, Rangers team.
Yes,it is.I still think the Hip Ops have affected him.
===
Is Mikel a rapper? ;)
Baba,
Vfunny :))))
HH
“Scroll on by”
Dionne Warwick – CQN songs
Timjim… no doubt … hell, it exhausted me and I was just reading back! hopefully, everybody gets back on, makes up, and moves on ….
We Are Not The Peepil (Thank God) –
We Are The CHAMPIONS!
HH.
“In Odsonne, we have signed one of the best and most exciting young strikers in Europe”
The Brodge
MIT…
Had a wee lol at them. ;)
Can’t believe you met him.Legend and great are used too often to describe people but for Noam it’s apt.
Prefer these though.
https://goo.gl/images/3m4awC
;)
M in T
It got a bit tedious so I just scrolled on by as Bourne says
CQN Song
Scroll of Honour
Manager hails successful transfer window for Celtic
By: Mark Henderson on 01 Sep, 2017 17:15
BRENDAN Rodgers has declared his delight at Celtic’s business in the transfer window after the Hoops made five new signings before last night’s deadline.
The Scottish treble-winners recruited highly-rated French striker Odsonne Edouard on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain in their final acquisition of the summer window.
And having already added Jonny Hayes, Kundai Benyu, Olivier Ntcham and Patrick Roberts, the manager believes the Bhoys are now in a stronger position going forward for the rest of the campaign.
Speaking exclusively to the official website, he said: “We have enjoyed a really successful summer window and I am delighted with our activity in the market, bringing in five players who I believe are adding real quality to our squad.
“It has been said so many times before, but the objective, if possible, is always to come out of the window stronger than we went in and I am very happy as we have definitely done that.
“The first thing to say is that I am delighted that we have not lost any players that we really wanted to hold on to. With such talent in our squad, you are always vulnerable, but to resist any interest from outside and hold on to our quality is very satisfying. These players know our ideas and how we work.
“The players we have added will only enhance this level of quality. Jonny Hayes was outstanding for Aberdeen for four seasons and he was the best player in Scotland outwith our squad, and we were delighted to bring him to the club, while Kundai has already shown he is someone of real talent and potential. Both players will be very important for us over the course of the season.
“Olivier, who we brought in from Manchester City, has already shown that he is a real, top class player, who will only get better. He is a player who I always felt would work for us and he has already given us some huge performances.”
“Pat is a massive signing for us and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome him back to the club. We saw what he brought to the team last season, I know he loves the club and is so happy to be back – and I know Kieran is thrilled to have his friend back as well!
“Pat is a real favourite with our supporters and I am sure he will play a crucial role across all the challenges we will be facing.
“In Odsonne, we have signed one of the best and most exciting young strikers in Europe and I think Celtic will be a place where he can flourish, just like Moussa has done here. He will be great for us and the kind of player who will excite our fans – we have done a great job in bringing him to the club.
“As everyone knows we were looking to bring a centre-half into the club and it was very unfortunate what happened with Rivaldo in South Africa. It was a great shame for him that he was not able to complete that transfer and of course we send him our sincere best wishes for the future.
“However, when that was not possible, there was no way I was going to bring in another centre-half for the sake of it or for numbers – I have always said it’s about the highest-quality rather than quantity.
“We have a style and a profile I am looking for and when a player with the particular attributes we are looking for is not available, then that is something we need to accept and not bring in players into the squad just for the sake of it.
“But, at a good time for us, we have Dedryck Boyata coming back from injury, Erik Sviatchenko is also working extremely hard on his rehab and young Kristoffer Ajer is a player who has really come to the fore and will continue to develop. I am more than comfortable with the other options we have in this area.
“So we are in great shape after the window and, when we return from the international break, we will start our work again. We will bring our new players into the squad, build on our great start to the season and go again.
“We have had a great start to the season in the league, we are in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and, of course, once again we made the group stages of the Champions League, so we have had a very successful few months.
“We are in a good place and looking forward to some exciting matches ahead domestically and in Europe – and we will be looking to start again positively against Hamilton next week.
“Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank the supporters for their incredible backing in the early part of the eason and hopefully we can continue with this great connection over the rest of the campaign.”
CQN Song
The Blog of the Old Brigade
Baba … ha! had not seen them before! I seem to remember Ian Brown, saying that he didn’t do crack or stuff, but was partial to a bit of weed …. if someone put one of those in their gardens, would it help grow certain herbs, I wonder?
Wouldve been better if we secured a starting CH and I’m certain the manager was quoted end of last season saying he needed a winger, midfielder to make a diff in CL and a CH……..2/3 ain’t bad but remains to be seen how the signings will perform….big leaps in standard for all, except Ntcham who looks like a star.
If all squad 100% fit the biggest weak link in and out of possession imo is Lustig…….even last night he was caught out for one of the Bulgarian goals…..Gamboa played his best game in a Celtic jersey one midweek game last season then never seen again.
Finally, I think we defo need another GK to pressure Craig Gordon who seems to have a real near
Post weakness
Forty four years married today. I got a card off the wife, I forgot, I’m the shit.
KevinLasVegas
The Bodhran Irish Bar Benidorm show all football, and have live entertainment after the match. Watched a few Celtic matches there.
Timjim … 44 years in this day and age is some accomplishment. Congrats to you and your good lady.
I’m in the shit
Financial Fair Play investigation opened into Paris Saint-Germain
Friday 1 September 2017
UEFA opens a formal investigation into Paris Saint-Germain as part of its ongoing monitoring of clubs under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
The Investigatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body has opened a formal investigation into Paris Saint-Germain as part of its ongoing monitoring of clubs under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
The investigation will focus on the compliance of the club with the break-even requirement, particularly in light of its recent transfer activity.
In the coming months, the Investigatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body will regularly meet in order to carefully evaluate all documentation pertaining to this case.
UEFA considers Financial Fair Play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European club football.
UEFA will make no further comments on this matter while the investigation is ongoing.
TIMJIM
Congratulations that’s an epic amount of marriage:)
‘We love Declan more than you….’ More season tickets burned at The Louden..
44 years? That’s 2 murders and an armed robbery…
Congrats..
UEFA FIFA SFA etc not worth a feck.
MIT…
If they did i’d own the entire stock,although I’d maybe let Delaney’s borrow some. ;)
One of the reasons the Roses split originally was down to them all having their own favourite susbstance,all different from each other,Brown liked green and Squire preferred charlie.
If you’ve ever heard Squire’s solo album you’ll realise weed is far more songwriting friendly than South American sherbet.
TIMJIM…
You’ve been married only 2 years fewer than i’ve been alive.Nae luck. ;)))
Only jesting mate.Congratulations to you and your good lady.
Paul67, I have autocorrected your last sentence in paragraph 7
“If he does, Celtic will acquire a remarkable talent for what in the current market, is a sniper.”
how can anyone forget the wedding anniversary.
dearie me ……
says st stivs who is now prompted to remember its wifes birthday on monday.
your in my good books jimtim
I keep telling people I’m only 51 . I got married when I was eight :0)
Baba
Thank you sir.
The Seahorses didnae do it for me, in the same way that devil’s dandruff didnae do it for me. Ian Brown solo stuff, however, is right up my street, coincidentally. :)
Baba / DD …. I have a confession to make … never tried the stuff …. never even had a cigarette in my life … had one puff of my dad’s cigarette after a football game (I was 5, I think) … threw up all over the pitch, and never touched them again. the old guy was no fool; he knew what he was doing.
DD..
We seem to share a few interests other than the hoops. ;)
https://youtu.be/2dXllKPkgo8
HH
TimJim
School boy error :))))))))))
MIT…
Never speak to me again. ;)
MARYJANEcsc
Baba … it gets worse…. I have never been drunk either! (only vice has been beautiful women)
still pals?
:)