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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1,404 Comments- Pages:
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Outstanding musicians DD.
One thing about England to be fair is it produced incredible bands, going right back to the 60’s.
Feel sorry for the young ones nowadays – cheesey trance and pishy R & B.
Planned dumbing down of the working class population in general.
Damn Globalisation.
FTNWO.
HH.
DD …
looking forward to meeting up as well.
Always liked the Waterboys… pagan place was a great album ….but Ialways thought Mike Scott was from Edinburgh
Yes, that was the theme…Well done rangers for not being held to ransom. Walker’s not worth a million pounds…we’ll get him for next to nothin’ next summer…
my, my, my! Dreamers…
16roads
Stiff Little Fingers and The Undertones were my two favourite live bands late 70’s at school.
MiT
Born in Ayr, educated at Edinburgh Uni. I am sure about Mike Scott. Karl Wallinger did well too.
DELANEYS
Mike Scott’s first band Another Pretty Face were fantastic , played some great gigs in and around Ayr
DD … did not know that …. things I learn on CQN! :)
here’s a singer for you guys … might be a bit from left field, but hopefully you guys enjoy it … Ghostly Kisses … a young montreal singer with a beaiutiful string quartet …I love listening to her stuff late at night with no lights on … haunting …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y_FRTxQ8Ts
Friday nights …. music night
BHOYFROMSKY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 7:06 PM
Thanks Pat She really does deserve that medal.
Off to see WGS conclude our Brexit negotiations.
Can’t bring myself to not support a team full of Celts (I’ll just boo McArthur :-)
Park Rd 67.
Who you playing tomorrow?
Cumbernauld away to Darvel.
Hail Hail
The late great Steve Lee of Swiss band Gotthard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aZGFRvTLF4
PR67
I heard that from another fine Ayrshire Tim.
Mon the Scots!
No one got a hit on the Scotland game?
SFTB
MCArthur is the weak link. Escape goat :)
BSR @ 5.14
6
Jimbo67
TONYDONNELLY67 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 9:51 AM
Can’t speak for other Mods. Me, I don’t need anybody to grass, I read the blog. Sometimes I need to read it a couple of times in case I miss something. Like I did from last night, further posts deleted on my read through again. Yes, posters can highlight things but they cannot contact Mods directly. Only person they can contact someone directly is by mailing P67.
A thankless and unpaid task but I think it is worth it, personal point of view.
Mods cannot red card a Blogger, only P67 can.
Over the last couple of days I have been logged in as Mod2 more than my preferred moniker…:(
TD 67.
That’s a bit suspicious, you log on and then the mod appears like a genie in a bottle.
Is there something you want to tell us? :-)))))
Hail Hail
Celtic are playing well
Lith miss a sitter nearly gave away a pen
Transatlantic sessions
Eric Bibb
Don’t ever let nobody drag your spirit down
https://youtu.be/Ds1faZB4QSc
JNP … LOL!
however …Mod 2 refers to “other mods”…. I thought there were 2 mods… but if one of them refers to ‘other mods’ plural, that must mean that there are at least 3 …. hhmmm!
Great run from Phillips but poor final effort
Got a song for James Forrest
Sing to the tune of “My Brother” by Terry Scott
Right…..
Here goes…..
Who’s got ears like Mr Spock?
Who is Celtics right wing rock
Who stauns in the pub and flashes his cock
Wee Jamsie
What do you guys think?…..it’s a work in progress
McArthur ahead of Cal Mac, the mind boggles.
McArthur shouldn’t be anywhere near this team. Average player who can’t get a game for his club side. McGregor should be starting.
JIMMYNOTPAUL
Girvan away to St.Cuthberts tomorrow in Scottish Cup pre-lim round , so hopefully get a result in Kircudbright ! Good luck to Cumbernauld in Ayrshire tomorrow !
Threesie
Am going to save that, it’s superb writing :-)
HH
SA good shot from distance… just past the post
Plain tomsee why McArthur canny get a game for his club, he is fecking brutal
Good play from JF
Thanks TET
Working on the second verse as we speak….
Yes it’s a strange one, in my opinion the mod is a nothing unless you are breaking the COC which I haven’t , why is the mod having a go at me, I’ll tell to one thing the mod will be at the next hootin anny surrounding the clique , and you know what, this / that mod just embarrassed him/ her self what a silly person, i’v an idea who the mod is, do I care? do I …k
Scotland playing well corner
Threesie
Canny wait ;-)
HH
Maybe I’m biased but all the poor passes that Scotland have done has been from non Celtic players
31003
Excellent, great Jamsie song.
Craig looking weak at his near post:))