For Celtic, summertime business is every bit as important as the more traditional cup finals and league deciders held later in the season. We face qualifers for Champions League or Europa League group stage, which define our financial health and desirability as a potential employer.
The most important achievement was recorded on Wednesday when we qualified for the Champions League, but now we’re there, how prepared will we be?
Seven players left the squad, Daryl Murphy, who had already spent two years out on loan, Thomas Rogne and Paddy McCourt, who rarely saw first team action last season, and Tony Watt, who seems to be less effective than he was in the opening weeks of last season, and is now out on loan.
More importantly, Gary Hooper, Kevlin Wilson and Victor Wanyama all left, three players who were instrumental in our European victories last season.
Hooper is a textbook big game player who scored home and away against Spartak Moscow but he missed the home win over Barcelona and scarcely got a sniff of the ball home and away to Benfica, or in the Camp Nou, where his role as a penalty box poacher was less effective.
Kelvin Wilson had a disappointing first season at Celtic but as last season progressed there was a noticeable rise in appreciation of his talents. He had an exemplary Champions League campaign.
Victor Wanyama was the most effective central midfield player Celtic have had for some considerable time. We saw little of Roy Keane at Celtic but in Wanyama, you could see a player with the potential to go as far in the game. He is young and still has lots to add to his game, concentration, for a start, but we saw him grow from a place on the substitutes’ bench to a £12m player in 18 months.
It surprised a few that Victor (along with Gary) went to a team often found at the wrong end of England’s top flight, but he is still potential. The acclaim he received at Celtic is similar to that bestowed on Liam Miller nine years ago, whose Champions League performances were breath-taking. I still can’t fathom what happened to Miller but I hope Victor continues to improve; if he does, he could appear in the Camp Nou as a home player.
21-year-old Israeli central midfielder Nir Biton looks like a straight replacement for Wanyama. I don’t know enough about any of the new recruits yet to put my name to them but on paper, Nir works. At 6’5” he continues our current tradition of signing players born to shoot hoops, as well as wear them. A trial at Manchester City fell apart amid a diplomatic incident involving his nationality. He was going to make a move to a Champions League team at some point and, for the player, Celtic will look like an excellent option.
There was a moment during THAT game at Fir Park in 2005 when Craig Bellamy tore up the turf with the ball before looking up for someone to accept his cross, only to throw his arms up in frustration that there was no one in the box. Having one fast player is just not effective.
We’ve had pace-merchant James Forrest for a few years but we don’t play a speed-based game to suit his talents. With fellow-sprinter Derk Boerrigter also in the team now one of the things I know Celtic were looking for in a striker was pace, which is what I expect to see from Teemu Pukki.
Much of our Champions League game will be about playing counter-attacking football so we have to recruit for this model.
Teemu has been playing a supporting role for Schalke since they played against him, then signed him, from HJK Helsinki two years ago, but we have not had a striker who could claim a regular starting place in that company in nine years. He is another one who, on paper, works for me.
Amido Balde has been given some protection from too much responsibility and exposure to allow him to settle into the club, city and language, Celtic is a lot different from Vitoria Guimaraes. I heard that, like Wanyama during his first season, he’ll be allowed to settle into life as a Celtic player.
Virgil van Dijk was simply delicious against Dundee United yesterday. He has height, build, speed, can run with the ball and can pass. Build a defence around him. Steven Mouyokolo is one of those gambles managers like to take on players, who were once lauded but have had injury or other blemishes on their record. Most don’t work but we’ll soon find out if Steven has overcome his injury problems.
Derk Boerrigter has skill and pace. He is another one recruited with Champions League football in mind (not to face 10 defenders in the SP), a competition he has already performed well in for Ajax.
The comment was made to me that the players coming in were uninspiring compared to the three key players who left but while I could contest that, there doesn’t seem much point. We recruited Hooper and Wilson from the lower leagues in England, and Wanyama as a teenager from a small Belgian club. It’s not what you know about a player when he signs that counts……..
For years we have been encouraging Celtic to scout better markets and find value. They have been doing this to great effect in recent seasons. The gap between where we were last season and one stage further in the Champions League was enormous. To bridge it will take a while during which time we need to make every pound work.
Enjoy the ride.
Tomorrow we’ll talk money. In short, while I blogged a couple of weeks ago illustrating the circa £17m operational gap we have before Champions League or player trading income (i.e. we are not a rich club), notions that we are anywhere near being a poor club is laughable.
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embramike
Epl is now toughest league apparently -tough to watch
Would take messi on loan for six months or as a project but he might be out of our wage structure, heard his agent drinks in Paisley though.
I know he is a bit small but we could maybe lend him out to the juniors and toughen him up a bit.
Kolncelt
Congratulations, so take it when you can.
For me, 73 last week and 73 this week.
I have found my level.
HH
GaBn – agreed!
Interesting Barca conceded 2 in 5 minutes just before HT – one a front post header from a corner? Enter Sammi …..
Getting loaned to Sevco wd be risky!!
Alright embramike
How’s things. I was just doing a bit of lurking and noticed you were posting.
Hope you are keeping well. The mrs is asking for you.
HH
Mick
Barca still bit vulnerable at back. Could be goal fest when we meet them.
SSN- Jim White is clearing his throat in preparation for tomorrows transfer deadline day -we call it having a sh**
DJBEE
20:57 on 1 September, 2013
Would take messi on loan for six months or as a project but he might be out of our wage structure, heard his agent drinks in Paisley though.
I know he is a bit small but we could maybe lend him out to the juniors and toughen him up a bit.
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Messi Starring for Celtic against Ross Tokely type players and Scotlands finest referees, from the FLEMING school, nae insurance company would go there.
It is time to highlight the Scum.
Kolncelt.
Congrats, I had the 1st 2 weeks at no.1, knew it wouldn’t last, and could get even worse this weekend, who’s decision to include internationals :-)
All downhill now
Hail Hail
PG
Wee snitch B in ma school!! <:o)
.
Just when You are sick to Death reading CQN Transfer Window Assessments..(SydneyTim has been Assessing for 6 Months)..
Ole Paul67 gives us a TWA..;-(
Awwe this Talk of Celtic will Never catch on..
Summa
Martyn McLaughlin @MartynMcL 59m
£532m – Real Madrid’s spending in past five years. £502m – Real Madrid’s outstanding debt. £16,512 – average salary in Spain.
I wonder what b&b they have put gareth in
embramike walking with wee oscar
20:55 on 1 September, 2013
How much paper des he need to write ” oh, shoite”
We call it a Jim White :-)
Gareth bale walks in to a bar in madrid -the barman says ‘no credit here son’
Sevco 12/1 with Betway to win the League Cup..sumdy better tell them..
tricoloured
Apparently the 5 way agreement gives them 2 chances at the LC
canamalar prays oscar can do it again
19:51 on 1 September, 2013
Saltires…,
When the big ghuy Balde rose to meet a decent cross I was very pleased we have found someone who can jump up and meet the ball instead of the usual jump down :o)
Just need to work on direction and I think he’s got that in him, I expect to see him bang in a few with the mapper this season.
——–
It looked so easy for him I actually thought he missed because he was shocked at the space and easy standing leap to connect etc.,
Agree -I like the look if the big guy / he might tick the box
HH
Petec
Thank you for that. The song that got me hooked on TSR, and their finest music and lyrics.
As alluded to by earlier posters………….you need to compare apples with apples etc
1. Teemu Pukki is arriving from a higher level domestic league and is already an established international. He will prove to be a better acquisition than Hooper for around the same money. He may even develop into another phenomenon should he stay a while.
2. Virgil Van Dijk will become the most influential CH at Celtic since Paul Elliot and may even eclipse him. He has it all. Presence, strength, pace, vision, and can play a 30 yard ball under pressure…… the gold standard used by Brian Clough back in the day.
3. Boettiger……..polished performance last Wednesday as a sub. Tidy feet and never gave the ball away. At 26 he is all the player he is ever going to be, we just need to get the best from him on big nights.
4. Bitton for 700k is daylight robbery (perpetrated by us) and will become our midfield anchor for years to come. Another one who can make a 30 yard pass in a forward direction. He will prove to be quicker, more mobile and a better player than Wanyama very soon.
So…IMHO the players who have arrived this week are already as good as those who have just left…and are actually better at the beginning of their Celtic tenure than those left after 2 years.
In other words two years from now the new team will be more successful than the last one however you measure it, weight it, co-efficient it etc
Just saying
gene,
Nothing would surprise me with that shower,nothing.
Greendreamz
Looks good to see in print what I think in my mind. I share your optimism.
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name supporting wee oscar @20:55
Paddy Gallagher @ 20:55
#Fearless Wee Oscar is on a Celticrollercoaster @ 20:57
Ha-ha great replies Bhoys !
Tricoloured ribbon
I will give you odds of 25/1 … minimum stake a fiver… ;)
Gene
Two chances eh…
None…. and … fleck all
greendreamz @21:19
Paul Elliot, now there was a fine player, loved that big guy – What a player he was.
Málaga take the lead, 1-2, away to Seville.
Radio Nacional commentator: “It’s very hard to tell from looking at his face, but I think Bernd Schuster (Málaga manager) is happy.”
Early start tomorrow
Night all
Hope i have greendreamz dreams
Seville make it 2-2.
tbj,
hahaha.Tell you what bud,Pukki 8/1 with bet365 to be top scorer in Scotland.Fancy some of that?
Ooooh. The Málaga players insist the scorer played the ball with his hand and that, even then, it didn’t cross the line.
The goal stands.
lionroars67
21:06 on 1 September, 2013
Martyn McLaughlin @MartynMcL 59m
£532m – Real Madrid’s spending in past five years. £502m – Real Madrid’s outstanding debt. £16,512 – average salary in Spain.
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PJBhoyNYC, is starting to realise that we Never Won the War/Wars.
The Globalists were there manipulating EVERYTHING.
There is, to quote Steak Bake, Absolutely, nothing new under the Sun.
If anyone Criticises anyone Criticising Celtic Supporters asking questions? FFS I will be registering in my Pea brain their criticisms. I am on so many Lists it is not True. Alex Jones gave away so many details to Governmental departments, including all my debit card details, accident, nah.
Dinnae you worry yer wee asses if we are not going into Syria, the West will Sicken the West with a Sickening attack that makes it inevitable that we make sure the Esoteric reason of 21st December 2012 starts happening and EXPANDS.
The New Pagan Age is upon us and the Bloodshed is gonnae be terrible, IMO.
I’m thinking of getting a new phone btw…..
Anyone heard how many tickets have been sold for the Stan Petrov game next Sunday ?
There a loads of legends going to be there……..oh and Henrik and Lubo too !
Can’t wait to see them again.
Right Ghuys and Ghals,
Now we’re through the CL Qualifiers and the Transfer Window it’s time to cease the gnashing and wailing of who we should have or would like to have…..time instead to maximise what we DO have…..
So here are a couple of unsung heroes with whom to start…..Lustig and Matthews. Oodles of skill and football nous between them and the ability to interlink and cover for one another as they take turns to zoom up the wing and deliver meaningful crosses.
I feel they’re victims of their own understated excellence and don’t get the credit they deserve….and in Matthews case, the game time that goes with it.
Have lurked over the last couple of weeks as battle has taken place between both spectrums of the debate! I can see it from both sides so you can all take issue with me! That’s fine…but just let’s get Lustig and Matthews on the pitch and on the ball and let’s start playing some fine Celtic football.
Thank you and good night
JamesGang
TBJ,
Canny get in to view the photos you sent earlier, saying your account is locked out ?
Hail Hail Bud
maestro-number8
21:30 on 1 September, 2013
Ticket office only had the visiting fans corner left today, with restricted view.
Although said Celtic shops may still have some seats left
Hail Hal