Last month I wrote about the highly-effective transfer windows culminating with the capture of Mikael Lustig in January 2012. The list of those who arrived over the next 18 months, culminating in the signature of Teemu Pukki on 31 August 2013, is largely a catalogue of expensive mishap. If only one of of the strikers signed during that period: Miku, Lassad, Balde or Pukki had made the grade, we would have been in better shape for the Champions League qualifiers.
Those mishaps sowed the seeds of where things went wrong recently but we brought in six players this summer, and in order to compete in the Europa League, we pretty much need five of them to command a regular starting place.
Craig Gordon is an excellent piece of business. Fraser Forster overcame almost all those doubters who would rather we bought Stipe Pletikosa in 2012 instead, but we have replaced Fraser with an equivalent, and banked the lion’s share of £10m in the process.
This alchemy is only possible due to doubts over Gordon’s fitness. We’ll find out how well-established his recovery is in the months ahead but the signs are good on this front.
Jo Inge Berget was signed on loan, like Amido Balde a year ago, he early in the transfer window. There is a great misunderstanding that there’s a shortage of players available early in the window. There are lots of players available the moment the window opens. For a reason. Jo wasn’t wanted by Cardiff City, who he made only two appearances for since joining in January.
He was given an unfair burden on his debut, in a highly-dysfunctional performance by Celtic in Warsaw, and, a solid performance against Dundee United apart, has been one of a number of players who have appeared lost in our game-plan since then. He has until Christmas to make his mark before he is due to return to Cardiff, but his chances will be limited by the subsequent signing on Wakaso Mubarak.
Wakaso is here on a year’s loan, with Celtic having an option to make the deal permanent, if he proves his worth. I hear good things about him; he has pace, strength, skill but his most prominent attribute is attitude, which he has in spades. This didn’t sit will in Kazan, where he was somewhat isolated.
Bulgarian midfielder, Aleks Tonev, bounced straight from medical couch to treatment table after his loan move from Aston Villa. He’s now fit and will be available for selection when play resumes after the international break and I hear Ronny Deila is keen on the player.
We now know that Manchester City teenage central defender, Jason Denayer, was brought in to play first team football. The player is highly thought of by City and Ronny, but I wouldn’t expect too much from him in what is his inaugural season of first team football.
Stefan Scepovic has the distinction of contributing 100% of the money spent on players signed by Scottish clubs this summer. He was Celtic’s first choice striker, and, as we discovered late in the day, was wanted by scouts in Spain, so the indicators are reassuring. His experiences over the past week have not without trauma for the player, but he kept focus and his word to join Celtic.
The overwhelming observation from our activity this year is the predominance of loan signings, which is a strategy I suspect was hatched after the ‘No refunds’ deals for Pukki, Balde and Boerrigter last season. We will get more from some of them than others.
Taking Berget for six months was clearly a short-term fix to an immediate gap in the squad. I don’t think we’ll see too much of him from now on. Despite the fact that Jo didn’t make a perceivable difference during our European qualifiers, I don’t have a problem with short-term deals in principle. We could have benefited from one for a target man.
Denayer will almost certainly return to Manchester next year, a more mature player, having pushed Efe and Virgil for a year.
Aleks Tonev and Wakaso Mubarak are here to impress, both are working for a permanent deal. I expect Mubarak to play in his favoured position on the left, with Tonev behind him in a more central role alongside Brown and Johansen.
Ronny has been putting apples in orange crates so far this season but with a central three of Tonev, Johansen and Brown, behind Mubarak, Scepovic and Forrest (or McGregor), he’ll have the personnel to play his favoured 4-3-3.
Two first team regulars left the club, the thoroughly professional Fraser Forster and Georgios Samaras. It was time for both to move on. Fraser, as Southampton was the right club for him, and £10m was the right price for us, Georgios, as he had become increasingly peripheral to team plans under Neil Lennon and would have been even more out of the picture under Ronny. Would Georgios have made a difference in our Champions League qualifiers? There’s a good chance he would have against Maribor but the gap against Legia was bigger than 6’3”.
Pukki and Balde were sent on loan, in the hope they impress and move on. Bon chance. Tony Watt was sold for £1.2m to Standard Liege, who will fancy they can take Tony’s undeniable potential and turn it into an asset their manager wants to work with. It’s been years since we’ve produced as exciting a young player as Tony but he’s now been shipped on or out by three managers.
I would still like to see John Guidette added to this list, even without European football – especially if he is prepared to stay beyond the end of the season. The incumbent strikers, Stokes and Griffiths, will continue to get game-time, but neither is suited to the lone-striker role.
I’m not going to sell a Europa League campaign as anything like the Champions League, but it is very important this squad is ready for Europe. Without much domestic competition (I’m ignoring Inverness and Dundee for a moment) we need to be competitive in the group stage and aim to progress to the latter stages of the competition.
Thumping Dundee United 6-1 taught us nothing, we need to mature as a team against European competition and exorcise the ghosts of Legia and Maribor. No matter how good the new arrivals are, there’s no way they would gel well enough to allow us to do anything more than endure >80 minutes of defending our 18 yard line in Champions League football this season.
We’ll miss the money, prestige and Zadok the Priest, but the Europa League is a better level for us right now.
My thanks to Canajunbhoy, who retires after running the Quick News section for the best part of a decade. Quick News will be back in a different format in the future.
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Tony67
Pukki said that the league wasn’t competitive.
He didn’t say it was poor/gash/rrrrrubbish. (delete as appropriate)
POLITICS
HUN NO MARCH
Seen on twitter
New post: Orange March IS Illegal http://bit.ly/1A61Sq9
Ray Singh-Carr –
So it’s ok to send 16 year-olds into war but they are just children when it comes to voting in elections?
Bsr,
I hope they are livid :)
But they will agree come may.
FITBA
Celtic Football Club@celticfc · 21s
.@Joey7Barton added to the #Maestrio star-studded cast list http://www.celticfc.net/news/6593 (NM) @FoundationCFC
Till later all
ray s-c…
In fact lowering voting age from 21 was bad enough!
In fact letting women vote…I ask you!
In fact the 1832 Reform Act is where it all went t*ts up in the first place!
;-)
Tom,
I don’t think you will find that this country does send 16 year-olds into wars.
If they did, it would clearly not be ok.
CHINESE LANTERNS.
bring back the chinese lantern blogs.
I wonder who would run Scotland IF the yes vote wins?
The SNP have the majority now, so they be in charge then?
And how long would it be before an election?
So the SNP sitting in poll position if it is a yes, could work oot fine for them?
They call a quick election no need to pick there squad they’re awe ready right?
Labour, Tories, Green Party, ukip, need ti pick a Scotland squad in a hurry, not good?
Should be fun and games.
But wee Alex and I keep forgetting her name I call her Jimmy Crankie are in a good place no?.
Canamalar, did that make them more two footed, or was their better foot just sore so thet used the other one!?
Ray Singh-Carr –
You can join the Army at 16.
CELTIC FIXTURE CHANGES
The SPFL this afternoon confirmed a number of changes to the fixture list due to Celtic’s involvement in the Europa League.
Sunday 21 September, 2014
Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Motherwell
Kick-off 3.00pm
Sunday 5 October, 2014
Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Hamilton Accies
Kick-off 3.00pm
Sunday 26 October, 2014
Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Kick-off 3.00pm
Sunday 9 November, 2014
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v Celtic
Kick-off TBC
Sunday 14 December, 2014
Scottish Premiership
Celtic v St Mirren
Kick-off 3.00pm
Read more at http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/fixture-amendment-28-96/#ZY95wYI6mHw9COFI.99
geordie munro
17:14 on 3 September, 2014
Tony67
Pukki said that the league wasn’t competitive.
He didn’t say it was poor/gash/rrrrrubbish. (delete as appropriate)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I didn’t say he did, lol.
JustaFan
Thanks fur the Nod..Pally.
Yes.. n..No..
Yes.. A Two Fitted Player is Ma..n.. Your.. Kinda Guy..
It is an Over-Looked Abilitee.. A VERY, VERY, VERY..
Over -Looked Talent..
n..
No.. Fae whit Ah hiv Seen of the Young Up N Comers at BhoysTown..
Ah hiv not Detected a Two -Fitted Player, among any whom AH hiv watched..
Why is that?
A Dunno!
Like Ye have Said..
This Talent .. should be instilled frum the get Go..
Training in This Art.. Should be Commenced…
As soon as a Young Neophyte is .. signed Up.. by us.
But..
Although,In Baith of Oor Opinionns it is
a
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL..n .. Should be a Necessary Requirement..
for Every Single One of Oor Player’s
it is Being..
Foolishly??( Ah Think So..)
OVER-LOOKED.
Nice Chatting,Pally..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Tom,
that you can, but you won’t be sent to war until you are 18.
How many would hand over their family income to the average 16 year-old and let them sort out all the bills I wonder?
Ray sing car
As an auldheid I obviously agree but when did kids ever listen to their elders?
If there is a price to pay it stands to reason only those with what they have earned will have to pay it.
Changing the voting demographic to jettison experience is an act of political expediency that SNP might live to rue. Such shallow short term judgements worry me.
Thanks for the two footer replies.
Does anyone know if our development coaches are targeted to achieve performance improvements on ‘weaker’ feet?
tonydonnelly67
17:19 on
3 September, 2014
The election date is in early 2016, March I think.
TonyDonnelly67. Theres as much chance of a yes vote as there is of you becoming Chairman of The Rangers. H.H. :-)
EmbraMike, at home after most games, holefully not too many dropped points.
Well hopefully none.
Pukki didn’t say the league was poor only that it was uncompetitive and that we were the only good team ,which has been more or less true for the last few seasons and I hope remains the case this season.
On Pukki himself, he was just a very poor footballer for us. That’s why we punted him on loan.
What could be simpler?
Tom McLaughlin
At 16 you(well not you personally Tom but you know what i mean)can work and bring a child into the world and raise that child……yet you are too young to vote or drive….have a pint or a fag….put a coupon on at the bookies and a whole lot more…..well….legally that is :)
If its a yes (omg) …
I hope it means Scottish Labour implodes, establishes a new party via mass recruitment creating a modern socialist party with affiliations to trade unions and trade bodies and a new refreshed leadership…a job I am modestly willing to take.
If that were to happen that would be one good thing a from yes vote!
Paul McStay was one of the best one-footed players who ever kicked a ball. His left foot was very weak
joe filippis haircut
17:23 on 3 September, 2014
TonyDonnelly67. Theres as much chance of a yes vote as there is of you becoming Chairman of The Rangers. H.H. :-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Just a we bit of supposition, it’s the devil in me ;)
Tom mc,
Agathe was one of the most one footed I can remember.
He wouldn’t even pass it a few inches with his left.
justafan
Kids, yoofs ect can be trained/coached to use both feet.
When I was younger and still playing amateur in the Paisley and District league, no one in my team wanted to play left back. We had a shortage of left fitters, and I was right footed. I played a season at left back and by season’s end I had a decent left peg. Never as good as my right, but getting shot off with either foot was not embarrassing.
Unless the kid has been coached from very, very young – there will always be a discrepancy between his preferred foot and the other. 60/40 Lubo was the mhan who impressed me with his two footedness, but one of Jinky’s tricks was to dribble off either foot…. and of course he scored the equalizer at Ibrox in 1966 with his left.
Years ago they used to force left handed kids to write with their right hand…
HH
Ray Singh-Carr
@1711
Some excellent points there.
Hmmmmmm 3pm KO on a Sunday, no problem for me, but big problems for a lot of fans if I’m being honest.
i remember very well mcstays screamer from 20 yards at the bigot dome with his very weak left foot
get in there
leftclicktic @ 17:14
Ouch ! They won’t like that too much. Interesting read. It’s got me picturing Trimble standing at the top of Arthur’s Seat punching his flag into the air, with a hint of madness about his demeanour. Too funny :))
On the other hand, the polis will likely give them the nod.
My friends in Celtic,
I think we all agree that we are in a transitional phase, new players who should be given time to settle in will have to hit the ground running.
RD has been given a vote of confidence, but that is conditional in that we turn things round before Christmas. Rightly or wrongly time & patience is a luxury that RD will not receive and possibly the job is bigger than he anticipated.
I would like to see a short term fix in respect of giving RD and JC some guidance. I would sound out Tony Pulis about acting as an advisor until his next managerial position.
No doubt some EPL clubs will hit the panic button pre Christmas and Pulis will be in demand. Until then he is a free agent and working with Celtic would not compromise any potential vacancy down south.
His record of getting the most out of players on a relatively small budget is unsurpassed, and who knows he may welcome the challenge.
RD has got his own tactical style so Tony Pulis’s input would be more man management. 2 or 3 days a week would suffice in an official or unofficial capacity.
As a regular churchgoer I’m sure St Andrews Cathedral et al would be ideal for him.
HH.
Auldheid
Hiya.. Pal..
Did Ah evah tell Ye ..
Ye wuz a DOYEN? ( In Miny a Field… especially.. a Fitba’ Wan.)
NA?
Well Ye Ur..
Bully, Fur yer Clever Lad..
Being able tae use either Foot wi Distinction?.. Is a Marvellous Achievement..
N..
It is ,certainly… NO A BAD THING!
Like Some have already mentioned.. Mebbe..it Must Be an Inborn talent..
like.. well..
Alwiz Being ..RIGHT..?
Like ..well.. YOU ,pal.
Who Knows..?
But..
Celtic, do need tae Pey more Attention tae trying,at Least , tae
tae Teach oor Up n Comers.. this Manly Art..with mair enthusiasm.. than
oor Coaches hiv bin Displaying.. up tae Noo.
Ma Opinion is. Sadly..
They Urnae.
NIce Chatting Pal..
As alwiz..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
rwe..
You’ve just reminded me of my dad & mum telling me about school days in the 1920s and being ‘cured’ of their left handedness.
Teachers rapping their knuckles with rulers and even tying their right hands down.
As a result, till their dying day, God Rest Them, they remained left handed lol.
tonydonnelly67
16 38
Sorry TD just back in fae ‘aff oot’
Somebody (Kittoch, I think) started putting headlines above posts so that you scroll by if it was about the referendum or whatever. Jist a wee joke.
What is the ugliest building in Britain competition, The Carbuncle Cup has announced its latest winner-
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/sep/03/what-is-the-ugliest-building-in-britain?
Apparently it is “Oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept” and the company has a red, white and blue corporate identity.
Thought there could only be 1 winner!
They would like other nominations for the prize and it is possible to make your own suggestions and comments here….
https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/5406f1f7e4b01e8c1d222f83
……if anyone would like to perhaps nominate something like a dilapidated old stadium?
Tom McLaughlin
What age is it right to send anyone into war? We both know it’s wrong at any age.
The real issue is when is sufficient experience of life gained to make a judgement informed by that experience?
I doubt it’s 16.
MOST kids can be taught to use both feet. We always trained kids to do all drills with both feet. First with their favoured foot and then with the other. Never referred to the weaker foot.
But we had one boy, I’ll call him Jack, cause that’s his name, who seriously couldn’t use his left foot to kick a ball. Coached him from the age of 6 up to 15 and it was just not possible for him to coordinate his leg and body shape.
But a very good right peg and a right good battler he was.