We spent just off £30m this window on Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo, Viljami Sinisalo, Luke McCowan and the loan fee for Alex Valle, while Kasper Schmeichel arrived on a free. There is a lot to like.
Early this window, I was worried that Brendan would veer off plan and concentrate players in their mid-20s – a short-term gain with long-term pain. When Sinisalo arrived, we knew the plan was still in place.
Viljami is now a full Finland international with around 80 appearances in senior football. He will understudy Kasper for at least this season but he is working with the best in the business in Stevie Woods. Two years from now, if not earlier, he should be first choice and ready for the challenge.
Today, Arne gets all the attention for that record-breaking fee. What we bought in him is mostly potential. He has the potential to grow into an established fixture in the Belgium midfield. Please remember, he is a few days shy of his 21st birthday; even Matt O’Riley had periods where form slipped during his brief 2 ½ years here.
Arne will be the same. You and I have the responsibility to nurture his talent and make sure Celtic Park is a place of growth for young players. Forget about the fee paid, it is almost certainly too much for where is he. Think about Arne as the Belgium midfielder of the future.
We know what we are going to get from Paulo Bernardo, who did well in our biggest games last season. The same is true of Luke McCowan – value and more at that price. One of the reasons Adam Idah is now a Celtic player is that his preseason did not go to plan. Consequentially, he is a bit short of fitness right now (you may have noticed in Paisley last week). That will change soon enough. He is a solid striker and a good alternate to Kyogo.
Net spend in the EPL was down 40% from last year’s window (2024: £627M, 2023: £1078m). Financial Sustainability Regulations and the on-going breaches of EPL rules have taken effect. Clubs need to live within their means and if they aspire to compete in Uefa competitions, they have to live within a budget restriction which tightens from last season through to next season.
The clearest manifestation of that is Ivan Toney. The England international striker was sold for £40m, and Brentford only achieved that figure by going to Saudi Arabia. No English club was prepared to pay as much.
In this context, Celtic achieving a new Scottish sale record with Matt O’Riley going for £26m is interesting. Not only is it new ground for Celtic, but the comparative with England is significantly better. My hunch is that net spend in England and elsewhere will continue to soften next year as stricter rules come into force. Our money should be more valuable going forward, our players, less so.
As we mentioned earlier this week, Matt O’Riley is textbook case of how to recruit and develop a football player. Do more of the, please, Celtic. He was our most financially valuable asset, but I expect we will be able to fill that gap easier than we would if Kyogo, Carter-Vickers, Hatate or McGregor left. It was a remarkable deal, in so many ways.
Your football club is in a great position, managed on a tier one level. Transfer windows work in a consistent and predictable manner. Anyone who fails to understand this, self-identifies as an undisciplined child. Think of yourself, if no one else.
Bring your A Game tomorrow. Confidence wins nothing. You, me and the men on the park in green and white will have to perform if we are going to collect the points.
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MORTON have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn on a season-long loan deal.
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classic SS – should have seen that coming.
looks good gftb 😛
rumour mill.
celtic are supposedly still mabye signing a current out of contract player
Boondock saint – I know you had the good fortune to pull on the hoops. But When i walked or ran out the tunnel for Dumbarton reserves many moons ago I think I had a …lets say nervous look on my face.
if i had just signed or was playing for the hoops it might have been different.
Young McGowan looks a tidy player who I think could be a steal at the price we paid.
HH
D.
SS – Is that a currant bun out of contract or just a current player?
D :)
St Stivs 6.38pm
Miss GFTB is a big Morton fan and asked me earlier who Nial McGinn was …
The reason for the Morton leanings is young Ryan McMullen (ex Celt youngster) is the godfather to one of our great nephews … a terrific Bhoy who hopefully in years to come gets back to Celtic 😂
Jackiemac
Anytime I have been in the Blane Valley the grub looks lovely 👍
SAINT STIVS
Was hopeful about the completion of the circle up to 80,000 or so but the bean counters will require at least £250M in the bank to sanction any such thing. In order to hedge against future revenue disruptions. I.e. the capricious coefficient which offers much but promises nothing. Sound, if extremely risk averse judgment.
Swiss
A superb window. Much leaner squad and much higher quality. We brought in a lot of talent, got good money for fringe players and made a significant profit on player trading. What’s not to like?
I’m not buying into our host’s allocation of credit though. Left to their own devices our ‘tier 1’ club would still be stockpiling cheap duds under the ‘stewardship’ of daddy’s boy.
This window has been all Brendan. Nepotism meant much of his work was shipping players out that only came in last year.
Thank you Brendan. Watch us go now (whatever happens tomorrow).
Almore : Saw it a couple of years ago in one of those wooden mill outlets but I haven’t seen it in regular shops for ages.
Probably banned under “Health and Safety “ for reasons described by Let’s All.
Gene
Yes. They seem to be in a bit of a mess on a couple of fronts.
Aipple.
😂
Not often that happens.
the new stand at palace will be 30 months consturction, and around £200m
celtic could do this, i firmly beieve that is how they will spend the money and maybe even with another shares/denentures offering.
Selhurst Park development: construction plan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTsgtP6mJR8
St Stivs
An out of contract player noted for having a fine head of hair by any chance?
Never had probs with ads on this site …..now its just crazy!
FOURSTONECOPPI on 31ST AUGUST 2024 7:16 PM
Never had probs with ads on this site …..now it’s just crazy!
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Try accessing it through the Brave Browser or Duck Duck Go.
Neither has adverts or tracks your searches. 👍
ta……switched to DDG all good. Strange All was good on chrome until today!
Hun infiltration lol
There are of course ways to finance a new stand at Celtic Park – e.g. Share Issue – Straightforward Finance, or a mixture of both plus Celtic Park naming rights.
The reason it hasn’t happened and is not in the planning is not because the shareholders/board cannot appreciate what the extra income could do for the club’s finances.
There must be a reason(s) why it is not high on the agenda. Let’s trust to those who know how the club functions – let’s face it they have led us to a great position both on and off the park for years and no more markedly than at this moment in time.
I think we should build a new stadium- think there’s outline planning for one in Cambuslang 🤔
Good win for the Dons. Huns will be raging. Even more so when we pump them tomorrow.
😃🍀🍀🇮🇪🇮🇪⚽️⚽️⚽️🏆🏆🍻🍻🇮🇪🇮🇪🍀🍀
Delighted for Kevin Nisbet & our nearest challengers :-)
FOURSTONECOPPI on 31ST AUGUST 2024 7:27 PM
ta……switched to DDG all good. Strange All was good on chrome until today!
Hun infiltration lol
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😂👍
Glad it’s sorted for you. 👍
Patience needed tomorrow I suspect. They’ll sit in and Beaton will allow them to consistently foul to break up the play.
Regardless, 2-0 to the Celts.
I hate the Derby games. Please, God, we win, but any score will do.
HH
Calmac will be kicked tae fe@k.
Btw way, for those that like a bet on the football. Paddy Power are giving 11/8 for Celtic to be winning at half time and at full time.
For those that don’t bet, that’s £11 back for every £8 you bet, as well as your £8 bet back. E.g. £8 bet gets you £19 back.
Stuck a wee tenner on it myself. 😃👍💰
Bet responsibly if at all. 👍
Duck, duck go could sponsor the nets over the visitors section at Ipox.
It will all come down to the referee.
https://x.com/paddypower/status/1829949916971745718?t=UpskRixEoP4-jGZn2WjOLg&s=08
Great CL draw,now great fixtures.
I just pray that skill will out win thuggery.
Evening all.
What price for Jamsie to score on his 500th appearance?
It’s written in the stars I tell ye.
HH
Brian
Rangers legend Graeme Souness went out “looking for a fight” after red card during club debut
Souness was sent off after a reckless challenge on Hibs’ George McCluskey during a bad-tempered clash at Easter Road in Edinburgh in August 1986.
dailyrecord
Rangers legend Graeme Souness went out in Edinburgh “looking for a fight” after being sent off on his debut for the club, former teammate and fellow Ibrox great Terry Butcher has claimed.
Souness was red carded for a reckless challenge on Hibs’ George McCluskey during a bad-tempered clash at Easter Road in Edinburgh in August 1986
The infamous challenge after 30 minutes sparked a mass confrontation among players on the pitch, before Hibs went on to win 2-1.
Butcher, who played in the game, said Souness later insisted on going out in the capital and that he had to act as Souness’s “minder”.
Will be interesting to see the baldy Belgium’s formation. Don’t think he has any choice but to play most of his new recruits, not a good idea. Not trained etc with the others….
HRVATSKI JIM on 31ST AUGUST 2024 7:58 PM
https://x.com/paddypower/status/1829949916971745718?t=UpskRixEoP4-jGZn2WjOLg&s=08
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😂😂😂 Paddy Power are second to none with their piss takes of the Huns.
Celtic40 me,
Great post earlier on your thoughts.Don’t agree with the backbone of them,re,BR.Someone had to light a fuse under the Board.Their way was wrong,but difficult to change ingrained ideas,as we see on here.He has started the process,he hopefully will improve the recruitment side.Somebody had to.Remember,he carry’s the can for other peoples ditherings.
The managers you mention have not managed successfully in the worlds top league,when they do,we will see their mettle.
Great post.HH.
Rangers order of games is unfortunately perfect for them.
Another 2 weeks before their first game in Glasgow which means ibrox more likely to be ready. This in turn means all 4 games much more likely to be at ibrox. Saves them a good few million in lost ticket sales and Hampden rental.
4 of their 5 easier games to start. By the time they play Man U and Spurs both of these will already have secured the 15 points needed for a near top seed place in last 16.
A bit annoying but I guess they will continue to be our coefficient monkeys.
I mean their Europa League order of games
Duck Duck Go – Relies on Microsoft Servers for its search queries…or what Microsoft dizny want you to see will not show up in your search queries.
Creating misinformed empty heads fighting for wokery bs issues.
Go to DDG and type – “Who was the 1st Non Catholic Pope?”
Or…
DDG and type – ”Why did 60,000 Celtic fans go along with the fraudulent Celtic PLC Board and buy Sevco tickets with Rangers prices on them since 2016 were the Brendan-1 recruitment was the cover – decoy for the ticket stunt…remember?…Street parties because amazing Brendan toppled Warburton? Murty? The barking Caravan?…then made us a European laughing stock?”
DDG Response – “Ah the Dim Timmy`s mugged and shafted by every Celtic board since 1994….play in a one horse league…were only the trolls speak any truth…yeah that`s them…SPL Team from Glasgow…their fans think they are Irish…but turn the other way from today`s nearly replaced version of Ireland…yeah that`s the Dim Timmy`s…or are they Scottish?….Our servers are playing up…please ask another question…please…try rebooting your device…bye”
Duck Duck Gone….
If you trust DDG who give your details to Microsoft…then lie about it when they get caught…then continue to supply your data to Microsoft and now Amazon as well once the barking inquiring caravans have moved on….then yes…you are Dim!
The PLC [ or no influence Lawwell ] have called Brendan`s bluff by spending some of last years withheld and sat on by big fat PLC arses and some of this years Celtic fans money…and if Brendan makes the club look like the Backwater Champions….like he has turned Kyogo into the new invisible man…then maybe its time to get rid of all of these rich imposters out the door?
Is there a transfer window to replace 60,000 easily and always mugged Dimmy`s off of the premises and rebel up with some real Uppity Tims who`s middle names are “Fkn come ahead PLC…”…like when fans weren’t lazy all seated bores?
Hmmmm.