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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CG brilliant save
Who looks young and very cute
Who has got a great right boot
Who stauns in the pub wi his baws hingin oot
Wee Jamsie
….and there’s more….
Moderators should not be needed on a Celtic site such as CQN. The fact that they are is a sad reflection on us all.
Lots of petty free kicks in the game
Leigh FK 40 yards out…….
Thing is though…..will Brendan appreciate it?
Leigh just past the post
The Griff is playing well
Leigh brilliant turn and control Corner
Goal for Celtic
Stretch puts the Hoops one up:))
Goal Scotland Stuart Armstrong
Good goal from Stuart Armstrong
Good header Armstrong from Griffiths corner 1-0
The Mod
If it’s a thankless job then don’t Bec JC down from the crucifix and give someone else a chance, press a pair of trousers and go out for the night, meet people enjoy yourself, but ffs don sit here all day waiting on me to post, ffs, that’s scary, do you know where I live?
Park Rd 67.
I will watch out for your result in the back of beyond.
Darvel have started well, seemingly a big physical side, Cumbernauld short of defenders tomorrow. Paddy might be playing right back again, a bit like Hayes playing full back for Celtic but needs must.
TD 67.
Surely it would go down as one of the best bluffs in history if you were a mod.
MIT.
What have you done with TGM?
Hail Hail
TD
Everyone knows you live in The Brazen Head
Now and again you go to your second home wherever that is :-)))
Hail Hail
Dos
Lovely goal
Cracking goal Robertson, great build up
Great goal from Robertson 2-0
That’s a peach
Sort of justifies the selection of a whean of Tims
Scotland (Celtic players)playing some nice football
JIMMYNOTPAUL
MOI a MOD, never in your puff, TGM has been bumped by people grassing him, not my cuppa tea, TGM and I don’t agree a lot, but the clipes who stuck him in, TGMis not a bad person, he probably getting a slaying the back of the heed, but ez no a bad guy.
Nothing like a bit of negativity fanny
T SEPTEMBER 2017 8:07 PM
Craig looking weak at his near post:))
TONYDONNELLY67 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017 8:03 PM
Not having a pop at you, only highlighting your post as I think you were the first one that mentioned grass, if you weren’t, I apologise. By and large I enjoy most of your posts.
I only wanted to make a point.
Sorry to disappoint any cliques but I will not be at The hootenanny.
TONYDONNELLY67
It was a joke big mooth
TD67
I hope TGM hasn’t been carded.
He took some a fair amount of abuse himself the past 48 hours.
That’s not to say he didn’t give some out too, but I’m with you it’s all about opinions, how boring would the blog be if we all agreed.
Hail Hail
Lith having the best of the last 10 minutes but not really creating anything…
HT 2-0 Scotland… played well
Strachan must be wishing he’d filled his team with Celtic players years ago.
I also hope TGM has not been carded, he was his usual self last night but unless I missed something it was mostly just backing up his position, I almost never agree with him but I didn’t see a red card offence
Mod2
Can we still grass up those who step out of line at the Hoot? I assume we will be representing CQN so you still have a responsibility to moderate our behaviour and alcohol intake.
I want to grass up BMCUWP from the outset for organisational inefficiencies.
:-@)))
MWD TPSBBBBHPWDS CEO
Well played Scotland.
10 great performances and McArthur. How bad is that dud?
Will you guys stop saying ‘grass”?
poor DD is getting all confused!
MiT
Easy Skanking! :)
THE GREEN MAN
Get back on here!
Who else can I spar with?
:-(
DD …
skanking …. a great word! … one of those words that reminds me of being young …. brings back all sort of memories …. dancing nights away to ska with some lovely young ladies … and the Bodines … skanking queens … great song from back in the day!