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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TimJim
Wow, fair play to you both, mucho congrats.
HH
KEVINLASVEGAS
You could always try the ibrox bar :-)
HH
MIT…
You picked the most dangerous of all vices.
You’re back in the gang.
Respect.
;)
FEEDTHEBHEAR on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 5:35 PM
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
——–
As ever(!) cannae really argue with you big stuff.
Especially on gamboa. Came on and looked the business. Roadrunner pace. Not seen in the Hoops since, then injured on international duty.
Reckon he definitely deserves a chance.
HH jamesgang
Difficult one tonight, heaps of Celtic players in the team yet I don’t want them to win, what a feckin dilemma, I put the blame squarely at the door of the scottish sectarian fa.
Lithuania are a kick in the arse off 5/1, must be worth a few bob.
Rooney earns £200k per week and can’t afford a taxi.
Gene on 1st September 2017 6:23 pm
Rooney earns £200k per week and can’t afford a taxi.
———————-
first thing I said when story broke.
Baba
Ian Brown does not have the greatest voice, but what a songwriter he is.
Wayne Rooney arrested for DUI.
The man should be thoroughly ashamed. I mean, driving a VW Beetle on his wages.
Gene
If I was on his money, I would have a full time chauffeur. Madness
TET
As a Scot I’ll be supporting them and look for the bhoys to play well and come through unscathed . Do the cheating sfa deserve my support – absolutely not.
COYBIG (playing in pink?)
DD
Maybe he doesn’t want anyone to know his nocturnal activities
Gene
Aye. Read it was the car of a mystery brunette, he was driving.
JAMESGANG
It has been obvious for the last two seasons Gordon’s achilles is the near post.
Already goals by Hearts and Astana have highlighted such.
Is it to late in his career to correct this?
Every team we play knows this.
6 Celts – Gordon, Tierney, Brown, Armstrong, Forrest and Griffiths – start for Scotland tonight
More VW emissions issues? Oh dear.
Scotland’s starting XI
Lithuania v Scotland (19:45)
Scotland: Gordon, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Tierney, Brown, Armstrong, McArthur, Forrest, Phillips, Griffiths.
As part of the goalkeeping fraternity I don’t consider the near post as a weakness for Craig Gordon.
It’s not like we concede many goals in total let alone at the near post. Of the two recent goals I think one deflected off his leg or arm.
Anyway, I believe James Forrest scored a cracker at the keepers near post to keep us in the CL.
It’s a valid target. Just like between the keepers legs. The phrase “shouldn’t get beat at his near post” is lazy commentary.
DD…
Agree he’s no Mario Lanza but his choons wouldn’t sound/feel as good with another voice.
Eff having to listen to Buble or Ball types with no alternative.
BFDJ congratulating huns for not giving in to jambos’ demands for Walker…
I often wonder why so many goalkeepers are beaten at the near post but many of them are. It looks really difficult for a striker to score at the near post with so little space to squeeze in a shot between keeper and post but many of them do.
Gene
As I said it’s a dilemma, I am with you on the players and hope they breeze through the game without any harm, as for the blazers, I hate them for making me hate them, they don’t deserve any glory, but if we win they will take it, if we don’t they will apportion the blame on our players, I feckin hate them.
HH
Baba
Would rather listen to Ian Brown than fellow Manc Liam Gallagher. Both their voices are effective for the music though.
TET
Like you i find it hard to support Scotland though i always want the Celtic contingent to shine.
My dad followed Scotland proudly but at my first Scotland game the vitriol directed at Jimmy Johnstone had be leaving early.It was not just the obvious huns doing such as many of the tartan fannies were just as bad.
I hoped it would change but the last decade of cheating by the football authorities and the abject failure of the national team reinforces that they and the mssm would be happier with failure than Tims making us a successful football nation once again.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
He was never the sharpest tool in the box:))
Gotta go.Couple of choons to start Friday night off.
https://youtu.be/E8H-67ILaqc
https://youtu.be/Qkzel7TCZ0M
HH
WBC
Puir wee huns being held to ransom by big bad Hertz. Twilight zone stuff.
FAN-A-TIC
This sums it up for me……
“I hoped it would change but the last decade of cheating by the football authorities and the abject failure of the national team reinforces that they and the mssm would be happier with failure than Tims making us a successful football nation once again.”
They had the chance to clean up the game, for the better I may add, it’s obvious they didn’t even contemplate it, feck them.
HH
Lucky enough to have seen most of those so-called Madchester bands live & direct.
Have to say that The Charlatans were the best by far.
Think they are back on tour, would highly recommend going to one of their concerts.
James were also an outstanding live gig.
Not saying the likes of Stone Roses, Mondays, The Farm, Inspiral Carpets weren’t good – just not as good as the above mentioned, in my humble opinion.
Don’tBelieveTheHypeCSC.
HH.
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES… on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 6:54 PM
The clue is n the name – Tim Burgess :-)
Well, I hope that Scotland do well. On paper, that team is far weaker than Celtic. How Calmac and even Ralston can’t get a game before the likes of Berra, Mulgrew and MacArthur is amazing.
Thanks Bhoys.
KLV
16roads
Loved The Charlatans. Double tragedy the band have had.
The Buzzcocks, Joy Division and The Smiths were amazing live Manc bands too.
TimJim happy Anniversary my my. 44 years how quickly the years have flown …. have a great day !!
Tell wee Mag she deserves a medal …. cheers to you both And Hail Hail
on music … when I get back from my trip, I’m seeing Billy Bragg at a small club, and then the Trashcan Sinatras are doing a house party for about 60 people …. should be fun…
here’s a local band I’ve been listening to recently … went to school with my neice, or something like that ..the WAYO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ishyo6xSHrs
Still want Scotland to win, but remain p@ssed off with the non footballing decision of not picking our Callum McGregor.
Good luck to all the hoops playing tonight, but more importantly; no injuries.
HH.
MiT
Look forward to meeting you in a fortnight.
I last saw Trashcan Sinatras in Glasgow 20 years ago. Ayrshire’s second best band after The Waterboys.
WEEBOBBY @ 6.41
Sevco will not be ‘held to ransom?’
EMBRAMIKE SAYS ” YER TEAM’S DEID…BEAT IT!” on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 6:37 PM
6 Celts – Gordon, Tierney, Brown, Armstrong, Forrest and Griffiths – start for Scotland tonight
*Plus Charlie Muldini and Andrew Robertson, what does a poor larkhaw haufwit dae, a team full of Jacobites or Lithuania, the country that helped prop up the casey afflek religion in Scotland.