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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hen1rik
Thanks. If @bhoyeddie insists on confusing Rangers with Sevco, the five-way agreement becomes a four-way agreement.
Sydney Tim,
Tom.
Finbogason’s club said they received a bid from Celtic that was not even up for discussion Fact
They received a bid from a German club for 4m. Fact
They stated it would take at least 5m before they started talking
Now u have to assume we bid less than 4m and did not return fact
Whether the player wanted to come is irrelevant as we would not even pay the money we received for Gary as a replacement.
Never mind the vic money which is long gong”
Sydney Tim,
Does Cheers in Sydney have a direct line to Celtic Board Discuss\ions, Lennoxtown management meetings? Where do you get all these facts from?
I know the Melbourne papers only mention Celtic as a one sentence comment if Tom Rogic has played a part in the most recent Celtic game.
Do the Sydney papers give in depth coverage to European transfer sagas?
I wish I had access to your “factual” Celtic transfer resources.
Gold Cost Tom, do QLD papers give in depth coverage of Celtic transfer dealings? Or are you kept as much in the dark as we Melbournians?
Perhaps we Melbourne Celtic supporters should boycott the Melbourne Age and Sun for keeping us in ignorance?
Any news on Vincent Lunny having Anthony Stokes up on charges for moving the ball back 10 inches, and putting his finger up to his lips after he scored? I wonder if Gunning reported Anthony?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS forza Oscar and Mackenzie 09:50 on 2 September, 2013
The difference is you were happy – and therefore able to hold more bevvy.
While the Zombies, in spite of their Ramsdens Cup high earlier in the week, were totally scunnered after Wednesday night’s result and got drunk much quicker.
Celtic_First
This user @retroscot just tweeted with this message.
Should have said earlier blog http://t.co/j6nOuBRWG1 was by @timomouse – cap is doffed.
Is WGS Beram Kayal’s agent?
bob mortimer@RealBobMortimer53s
TRANSFER NEWS: Barclays Bank confirm they have moved £100 from my deposit to my current a/c #donedeal #TransferDeadlineDay
celtic_first
09:40 on 2 September, 2013
Do you think at that point the corrupt blazers told UEFA that Rangers were in admin with no mention of possible liquidation ?
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
Good point-and they were even more scunnered when Stokesy scored!
Kinda ruined their day,I hope…
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 35m
The last set of Audio Releases had the aim of promoting that the words and actions of those who benefited (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1rm7vd6
Wanyama money fine. But the Hooper money should have just been a write off on a replacement ie Finnbogasson, younger than Hooper plus we would have made a profit on him. Got 5.5 million for Hooper. 5 million euros for Finnbogasson with some change left.
Can see the point been raised on that off people. Ultimately it is down whether Lenny really wanted Finnbogasson.
For all we know he might have thought no. But if he truly wanted them then we should have pushed the boat out IMO.
Most heartening bit of the five-way agreement?
For this observer, it’s the sentence that says: “If, and only if, the members of the SPL in General Meeting give approval to the registration of the transfer of the RFC Share from RFC to Dundee FC pursuant to article11 of the SPL Articles, the SPL irrevocably undertakes to take whatever steps arenecessary to record Dundee FC as the holder of the RFC Share in the registers of members and transfers of the SPL immediately following transfer of the RFC Membership to Sevco from RFC by the SFA.”
It means the SPL clubs, including Celtic, were not involved in in shoe-horning Sevco into Scottish football and allowing it to pretend to be the deady bears. All the SPL clubs had to do with this was making sure Dundee and not Sevco took the place of Rangers in the SPL once Rangers went into liquidation.
Young Darnelle Fischer. Can he play left back ? Think he is a belter of player from what i seen of him.
DU’s Paton should be on Lunny’s to do list for calling Anto a cheat
hen1rik
10:03
Not sure what need there would have been to inform UEFA until the next round of licensing. Motherwell knew they would compete in the Champions League qualifiers despite not finishing second in the SPL in 2011-2012 owing to Rangers’ ineligibility for suffering an insolvency event. Everybody knew.
I cannot believe Sebo doesn’t have a club.
Something funny going on there.
Could it be?
Tony and many of us believe that those who try and divert attention away from our club improving in the park have another agenda
Fellas
I hear you re Tony Watt.
I guess I had just hoped he would have had his. ‘Attitudinal realignment’ managed at Celtic. He looks like the kind of player we are disappointed we didn’t sign.
Just to indulge BSR..
‘Mark Hately said Stokes moving the ball back was like a new singing…!’
Bada Bing,
We can register any free players before the cl deadline tonight
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS forza Oscar and Mackenzie
10:05 on 2 September, 2013
“Good point-and they were even more scunnered when Stokesy scored!”
“Kinda ruined their day,I hope”
It wouldn’t have helped that Anto stopped the traffic on the Tay Bridge to take that free-kick.
Sydneytim – Now u have to assume we bid less than 4m and did not return fact.
So are you assuming that or is that fact. That sentence makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. At no point throughout your incoherent rambles were you even close to make anywhere near a valid point. I award you nil points and may god have mercy on your soul.
Are West Brom releasing Gabriel Tamas on a free??
THE ROLEX BOYS….Extra marital relationships, prostitutes,cars and foreign holidays masked as corporate away days, oh errrr misses, hahaha
I agree with Paul, that the Van Dyk in defence is going to be a fantastic player for Celtic and Ambrose can also play a bit. Lustig and Mathews are quality, wish that 1 of them could play left back. All the players mentioned are good defenders and good players going forward. On Saturday they looked as solid as ive seen Celtic in defence for some time in defence.
Midfield has to be Ledley Commons Brown and a pick from any of the others, with Pukki Samaras Borreigtor Stokes plying for positions up front. Looking good Celtic looking good.
A very poor way of doing buisness. Celtic were up in arms with Benfica over FF. This is not the way to go about things.
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/fry-says-celtic-chase-for-posh-star-tomlin-sparked-war-1-5446048
David Peter deans
Lots of positives there, now that’s what I am talking about well said my man, moaners/Huns/attention seekers take note. Well not the Huns they just gonna stick to there agenda.
tonydonnelly67
10:00 on
2 September, 2013
Is Vincent Lunny giving Gavin Gunning a call over his cowardly and petulant wee kick at Virgil after the ball had gone? I wouldn’t hold my breath!!
C_F
The key aspect from the 5 Way Agreement is confirmation that the SFA member referred to as “Rangers FC” for all of history was the legal entity RFC plc, not some semantic ‘club’ or another.
That SFA member “Rangers FC” is in the process of being dissolved.
Currently it exists only as an accounting exercise, a bookkeeping shadow if you like. In due course it will be erased.
Istanbulcelt Oscar’s Green & White Army 10:36 on 2 September, 2013
How would you suggest Celtic make contact – ESP?
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/suche/detailsuchespielervertragslos/suche.html
sydneytim
10:20 on 2 September, 2013
What makes you think (assume) the new signings won’t improve our performance “on the park” ……… Your comment seems a little premature…….some were unimpressed with Hooper, Wilson and Wanyama when they were signed, citing ‘cheap’ signings…!!?? Patience my mhan…. :)
Barry Fry sounds like a hurting Hun.
Craig white. Finbogason club released details of the German clubs bid and said our bid and another clubs were insignificant Ie below 4m
They were releasing info to raise his price up
They told Celtic 5m to start taking
Celtic then lost interest at that price and went back to the old cheap options on non scoring strikers again
istanbulcelt oscar’s green & white army
10:36 on 2 September, 2013
Such is life …..hehe
David Peter Deans
Careful! Your post , without signing players from Fantasy Island, shows Celtic to be in robust health with regards to team selection. Surely you have gor something wrong? I have been reading many posts on here of late telling me that the transfer window has left Celtic a mere shell of their former self 0:-)
Surely van Djik cannot possiblt be compared with the much loved, highly talented Kelvin Wilson?
JJ
One of Celtic targets Capuano of Pescara could be off to Cagilari.
67. If we had a goalscorer, then indeed we could try a project
We don’t. Neil Lennon wanted a goalscorer and given the large influx of cash would if expected a little support
Window is shut. PL bonus now confirmed
For the record Neil was not supported during this transfer window
End of story
sydneytim
10:44 on 2 September, 2013
Ah, so Hooper was “the old cheap options on non scoring strikers again” ……. Doooooohhhh