That’s all folks!

441

The defence has seen most additions. Jozo Simunovic, Saidy Janko and Dedryck Boyata arrived, with Tyler Blackett on loan from Manchester United. Belgian, Logan Bailly, came in as our backup keeper after a decent career in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Two attacking midfielders were signed: Scott Allan, who has made a couple of cameo appearances, and Ryan Christie, who will further gestate in Inverness until the end of the season.

Nadir Ciftci was the manager’s primary striking target, and although he arrived early in the window, his start has been hampered by a six game domestic ban, while the Champions League qualifiers arrived too early for him. A lot of store is being placed on his and Leigh Griffiths’ shoulders.

Will they be stronger than the Griffiths, Scepovic, Guidetti offering of last season? Will they be good enough for the challenge ahead? Place your bets ladies and gentlemen (and opposed to send me inappropriately emotional messages).

I read lots of comment about Steven Fletcher or and Michu potentially coming to Celtic over the last few days. They were players who Celtic enquired about earlier in the window but neither was interested in coming to Scotland. They are in the league they want to play in, we were not remotely on their radar.

Oh, and the van Dijk deal was for £13m, not the £11.5m reported earlier. Think we might have some Fraser/Victor reflected value in this deal.

That’s all folks!

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  1. Shiek. …. we have 3 strikers and strikers in the development squad ….

     

     

    More than enough to win domestically … I say watch out for a freebie. ….

     

     

    What’s samaras doing the now again ?

  2. I will an will always be a Celtic supporter/fan till the day I die

     

    But today I felt cheated

     

    By our board

     

    Who have appointed a poorer manager

     

    Than Neil

     

    And continue to sell our best players

     

    Without worthy replacements

     

    Underwhelming

  3. Get yer Wrigley’s spearmint and yer macaroon bars here.

     

    Special offers on damp, threadbare towels to chuck.

     

     

    Dinner ready. Aff in

  4. GEORDIE MUNRO @ 11:33 PM,

     

     

    “Looking forward to you justifying the £8M nett spend”

     

     

    Geordie Munro, it was on the article before this…

     

     

    “The transfer is the most expensive in Scotland in 8 years and takes Celtic’s spend this window to over £8m.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Anyone care to answer ?

     

     

    Why did Celtic not sign a forward ?

     

     

    – 3 years of failure, gambling on long-shots

     

     

    – £11.500,000.00 taken in for VvD

     

     

    – Scepovic loaned out

     

     

    – Reported targets “reveal” we don’t want to ply our trade in Scotland at the eleventh hour….

     

     

    It’s patently obvious our chain is getting yanked…………question is why are Celtic neglecting things so much ?

  6. CALTONTONGUES on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 12:03 AM

     

    I really love the Negativity on here.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I really do.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cheered me up no end today, thanks.

     

     

    ——–

     

     

    Head up my friend.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  7. In a perverse sort of way, I’m actually glad we haven’t signed another striker in this transfer window just gone.

     

    Why?

     

    Well, although I agree wholeheartedly with just about every Celtic supporter on our need for one, I have no faith in our scouting department to unearth one and am sick to the back teeth of blowing millions every year for the last 5 on last day fuds and loan signing duds parent clubs don’t want. There appears to be no accountability at the club on this professional incompetence or, indeed, our parallel inability to fashion one from the hundreds of youngsters that travel through the Academy system, year in year out.

     

    I don’t know why Stevie Frail has just left the club but I sincerely hope that Chris McCart and Peter Lawwell try a change of tack for his replacement. Push the boat out and seek someone with a track record of producing a striker or six that go on and bang goals in at a decent level around Europe.

     

    Sorry to sound like a mineshafter (I’m really not, honest Guv!) but reading about the Youths/Development teams winning trophy after trophy is wearing a bit thin when the end result is that we just fill the teams around Britain with the end product and haven’t produced a goal scorer since Fuckin Charlie Nicholas!!

  8. Virgil will continue to grow in stature now that he has gone. He was very good but not as influential as Wanyama. I am hopeful enough that Jozo will fill his boots adequately. Overall we should be OK at the back, I really like Janko and feel he can go on and be a great player for us. We are now spoiled for choice in midfield but our glaring need is up front. Griffiths is fine. Ciftci has started poorly in Europe but he should be effective in the SPFL. Stokes hasn’t been played as a striker for years and his morale must be at an all time low. The big worry would be if Griffiths picked up a serious injury. It is our Achilles heel, but hopefully Griff will stay healthy.

  9. PAULOANTONY on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 12:02 AM

     

     

    What’s samaras doing the now again ?

     

     

    ————–

     

     

    bring him back, we wouldnt have lost the malmo goals if he had been defending the box.

  10. cultsbhoy,

     

    I know very little as to who Ronnie wanted or didn’t want,

     

    unlike many on here,

     

    all I am saying is that if the Croat is a player Ronnie wanted then

     

    by spending so much it suggests they are giving him some backing and support

  11. I heard he was dead on

    I gave an example of a striker playing in a European league Celtic could have looked at and signed who would imho have made a fist of it up front for Celtic.

     

     

    Now Rapid Vienna have signed him just today – a club we are probably around a similar playing level to – they are in the same competition as we are in European football and they beat Ajax.

     

     

    Matej Jelic – Croatian, 6FT tall, 24 years old (for the policy enthusiasts and the board) and his record at Zilina

     

     

    29 goals in 68 games. A decent strike rate in comparison with a Pukki or Balde.

     

     

    Scored 7 goals in the Europa Qualifiers this season. Missed out on the groups to an unlucky defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

     

     

    He cost 800,000€

     

     

    VERY affordable for Celtic given the money spent today on Ryan Christie.

     

     

    This is ONE player who I alone can identify who meets the criteria the signing policy wants.

     

     

    It really is time our scouting network looked at Eastern European leagues to identify good players when they are unknown and who can come to us and be made into Stars.

     

     

    Celtic never sign stars, we make them. Whenever we sign ”stars” they invariably flop but getting players in unfashionable European leagues and making them into stars is something we should be looking at.

  12. Pauloantony

     

    I admire your optimism

     

    Let’s hope we will come good

     

    I see us getting pasted in the Europa league tho

     

    10points needed don’t think it will happen

     

    The malmo game legia and marlibor

     

    Tell me Ronny is clueless

  13. IMG_0962.JPG

     

    Simunovic paperwork being prepared as Croat joins Celtic 101

     

    By Paul67 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 CQN BLOG & COMMENTS

     

    Paperwork for Croatian central defender, Jozo Simunovic, 21, is being drawn up and will be submitted before the European and Scottish transfer windows close tonight. This has been the most tortuous signing since, well, since Celtic signed fellow Balkan Stefan Scepovic a year ago.

     

     

    Simunovic was the first choice replacement for Virgil and I hear the coaching staff are delighted to get him.

     

     

    The transfer is the most expensive in Scotland in 8 years and takes Celtic’s spend this window to over £8m.

     

     

    We’ll go into detail on all of this tomorrow.

     

     

    SHARE. Twitter Facebook Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

     

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    That’s all folks!

     

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    GEORDIE MUNRO on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:11 PM

     

    HT,

     

     

     

    Oh aye. Defo.

     

     

     

    That’s why I never mentioned defence :)

     

     

     

    I like the big guy. If we made the cl I’d be devastated if he still went.

     

     

     

    I’m not running down the EL…there could be a few scary nights ahead.

     

     

     

    HH

     

    HAMILTONTIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:11 PM

     

    AoW

     

     

     

    Every Tim I’ve spoken to at games this season has stated that we need another striker in. I don’t think it’s chucking the toys out to be thoroughly pissed off that we’ve not addressed that.

     

    !!BADA BING!! on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:12 PM

     

    Says a lot ,when bhoys complaining about letting Scepovic go….

     

    SANDMAN on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:12 PM

     

    Jordan Larsson.

     

     

     

    Should have taken the King’s DNA on loan.

     

    PAUL67 on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:13 PM

     

    new article posted.

     

    LENNYBHOY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:13 PM

     

    BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 10:47 PM

     

     

    Mine too…:)

     

     

    HAMILTONTIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 10:52 PM

     

     

    Please to meet you my name is Priscilla…

     

     

    I was going to wait until tomorrow, will probably post again then. However, I am too being likened to a Drama Queen.

     

     

    We are going into a European competition with a Manager who either refuses to or is unable to change tactics. We go into the competition with a weekend side that we had for the UCL qualifiers. We do so with a relatively young squad, despite Ronny saying we needed to get some experience in to help the young Bhoys. Who has failed us Ronny, The Board, both.

     

     

    To cap it all off we we have failed to strengthen the one remaining area after Left Back position that we have yearned to strengthen since when.

     

     

    I have posted before, we gambled on black and it came up red.

     

     

    I have posted before we have to speculate to accumulate. Not asking to spend what we cannot afford but come on, spend a few quid to show we mean to take the UCL/Europe seriously, not play at it.

     

     

    It was said last year we have a year to prepare for the qualifiers. Now we are saying the same. Only things is we now only have January to prepare, leaves us about 4 months to bed the Players in for the qualifiers.

     

     

    It is going to be a long Season.

     

     

    Drama Queen, that’s me, guilty as charged.

     

     

    Disappointed, just a tad…:(

     

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

     

    Hail Hail!

     

    LEFTCLICKTIC on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:14 PM

     

    Stringer Bell

     

     

    I bumped into backpack collection bhoys on sat,told them i didnt know they were collecting and i had 5 wee packs made up to go,

     

     

    he gave me his own number and will arrange to have them picked up at weekend,

     

     

    im in ml5 he is ml4

     

    EYES WIDE OPEN on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:14 PM

     

    Must be no strikers in world football at the minute

     

     

     

    Our scouting staff have had 3 years to find one and of the ones signed to date have recommended naff ones.

     

     

     

    Fresh pair of eyes needed within the scouting network (and boardroom) me thinks.

     

     

     

    The mismanagement of scarce resources as a result is scandalous to the extent we are now scared to take a punt on anyone outside our own awful and dross league!!

     

     

     

    Incidentally I’d Have the striker we paid money for, then paid money to release – mo bangura in the team ahead of the diving cifti, who we paid money for.

     

    QF on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:14 PM

     

    should we remember, with transfers, that you have to pay every penny you pay, but don’t get to keep every penny you collect. there are lots of possible deductions so you can’t do an income outcome difference, based on transfer fees alone, to calculate profit or loss.

     

    GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:15 PM

     

    Bailly not first pick

     

     

    Janko not first pick

     

     

    Jozo probably first pick

     

     

    Boyata first pick

     

     

    Allen not first pick

     

     

    Christie not even at Celtic

     

     

    Blackett who knows

     

     

    Ciftci not first pick

     

     

     

    SAYS IT ALL REALLY

     

    SYDNEYTIM on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2015 11:16 PM

     

    I should just cut and paste

     

     

    Looks like another shambles

     

     

    Wage bill been substantially reduced and costs cut. Sorry Paul67 8m. What planet are you on

     

     

    Are you taking account wages. Then you must include wages saved

     

     

     

    VVD sold to make up CL money with no experienced replacement

     

     

     

    Upfront. Sorry but how long must this go on

     

     

    Neill ask lawell 5 years ago that he needed a 2nd striker alongside hooper nope sold hooper Replaced him with Pukki and balde

     

     

    Done nothing since. Is this lazyness or incompetence ??

     

     

    Bet you AGM will be moved to away from Europa league time

     

     

    A very poor inexperinced side with a lack of Center halfs or goal scorers about to face experience in CL

     

     

    Lawwell has a nerve what he has done to our team and taking his massive salary plus bonus

     

     

    The real enemy to our team is peter lawell

  14. would have liked to see a striker bought during the transfer window

     

     

    but hey ho

     

     

    whoever takes to the pitch in a Celtic jersey gets my support, its not the teams fault if we think the custodians of our team are not playing fair

     

     

    it is what it is and we need to get behind our bhoys on the pitch

     

     

    Goodnight Timland

     

     

    HH

  15. andyR53 on 1st September 2015 11:39 pm

     

     

     

    Absolutely Pathetic.. Why dont the moaners and complainers pack up and go!! They have absolutely no idea how a Football Club is run, let alone a Football Club playing in Scotland.

     

     

     

     

    Go.. find another Club.. don’t come back.. take yer greetin faced pathetic shitty attitudes too. Youre not Celtic Supporters, your only on here to have a pathetic go at a Club that has done so much for Scottish football since I can remember.. and done it with honour and integrity despite the governing bodies and the authorities.

     

     

    *well said too many jim goodwins on here, call themselves Celtic supporters FFS, some don’t even go tae see the team. I don’t but then I’m 3.5k away, still a fan.

  16. GG, I can see why the Club have backed Nesbitt and Duffy but it is too early to judge either. Young guys need time an space to develop. Bobby Lennox spent 3 or 4 years after Ardeer Rec in Ayrshire in our reserves before suddenly becoming world class as a Lion!

  17. we have one goalscorer at the club Griff… KC but he should pass more! then no one who can get 10+ goals..shocking.. Ialso don’t belive RD signed any of the players who have arrived in the last year.

  18. James Forrest

     

     

    You’re a Celtic fan, for sure.

     

     

    It’s a shame when we rely on supporters, or there might be nothing for you to write about nearly every other day.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  19. Andy Murray just warming up for his first round match at the U.S. Open.

     

    His opponent Nick Kyrgios is attracting attention for all the wrong reasons.

     

    In his pre match interviews, Andy didn’t comment on Celtic’s transfer window.

  20. “I’m lying here scunnered”

     

     

    HT,

     

     

    Like a sleepy disgruntled Charlie Nik??

     

     

    :))

  21. No Scandinavians…. just Dundee Utd and players who appear to have been lokeda t before.. also why the same crap from celtic ” we tried to get XXX but he didn’t want to come to S cotland” then why not find out months before deadline day and get players who would come!

  22. Poor stuff to be referring to genuine Celtic supporters as fannies and telling them to go and support another team purely because they’re unhappy with our transfer dealings.

     

     

    Night all.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  23. Saint Stivs on 1st September 2015 11:54 pm In the early period of Steins reign , its believed he influence Simpson back to CP

     

     

    *eh nae he didnae, I fact he hunted him fae Easter Road, oul Ronnie was on his way tae Berwick as player manager when Sean Fallon encouraged the board tae sign him tae help bring the Kelly Kids on, a bit like Jimmy Gribben and the Latter Day Christ.

     

     

    Incidentally tae all you greetin faced out there, Ronny stopped Joe Thomson from going on loan as he saw something there in the training ground. Watch for him breaking through shortly.

  24. “we have one goalscorer at the club Griff… KC but he should pass more! then no one who can get 10+ goals.”

     

     

    Maradominic,

     

     

    I’d guess we now have at least 6 players on our books who bagged 10 goals last season.

  25. HT,

     

     

    Night mate.

     

     

    I’m gonna catch some Andy first.

     

     

    I’ll pay for it tomorrow though.

     

     

    HH

  26. HAMILTONTIM on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 12:19 AM

     

    Poor stuff to be referring to genuine Celtic supporters as fannies and telling them to go and support another team purely because they’re unhappy with our transfer dealings.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Night all.

     

     

     

    ————————————-

     

     

     

    tonights transfer window is like deja vu.

     

     

    the more your in the front room seen by tv seats.

     

     

    the more chance you will get hit in the coupon

  27. Boo hoo

     

     

    Dry yer eyes ….

     

     

    Get a grip

     

     

    Give the new players a chance ..

     

     

    And enjoy being a celtic supporter with our unbroken history …

  28. I don’t want our club to go in to debt to finance ambition. Equally I don’t believe we should be run to generate financial surplus for its own sake. Broadly speaking we should be a break even organisation that invests in the team.

     

     

    I guess my idea of a football club CEO is out of date. I’d love to know what Lawwell considers his role to be. In my world it is about ensuring long term survival and growth of the club. Right now with dwindling attendance it feels like we are shrinking to become a feeder club for Southampton with no ambitions out with SPFL.

     

    We used to be a European Team of note.

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