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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KLV,
If Skippy blew hot and cold, he couldn’t have been that consistent.
Further to my “kissing frogs” analogy above I believe our sales of Hooper and , particularly, Wanyama will actually help our recruitment of better players.
Those who see themselves as ,and who actually are ,good enough to play at a “higher” level will realise , as will their agents , that the exposure they get with us , in the CL in particular , will allow them to move on if they prove themselves.
They will also see that we are not difficult to dealwith if the right offer comes in.
Does that mean we are a selling club? Yes but so are 99% of all professional football clubs.
79caps
16:42 on 1 September, 2013
Snake
Hooper is yesterday.
…..
Truth is Hooper is more like nine months ago.
I think it may be significant that Watt has been loaned out to a european club.
Perhaps, outside of football, he needed a fresh start away from an environment and friends not conducive to professionalism.
If this is the case, hopefully he can come back older, wiser, with more experience, and become the Celtic legend we all want him to be.
Good luck Tony.
Malc
I agree , with the honourable exception of his performance in the cup final.
Auldheid @ 16;20
You’re right, same thing at Elfsbourg away, different reaction after the final whistle – relief – but his post match interview…
Always read your opinions, so do you think Lenny or our CEO, have benefitted more from our current windfalls?
Canamaler @ 16;24
Auldheid doesn’t screw up his grammer like that, that quote was from me:-)
Now I read that post from Toronto – no way am I an expert.
Also, the UK rules could be different from North America but while I believe a PLC and a Limited Liability Compainy Board must manage the Business to the Shareholders wishes.
Now, of course they must manage the Company in a fiscally prudent way, they must pay taxes and follow statutory requirements but I believe there is not a law saying they must maximise profits.
Of course most shareholders in PLC’s demand this, that’s why they buy shares. This is not necessarily the case in Footbal Clubs and was never the case for the majority of fholk who bought Celtic shares.
So IMO Celtic Board don’t have a fiscal bottom line objective.
The majority of our shareholders bottom line is on the pitch.
As always looking to be enlightened
I think we exit the window weaker than at entry , we are however richer in monetary terms , I’m looking forward to your assessment of latest debt free vs bankrupt spin , for a website that made financial geeks of many of us it would be very welcome to get some informed comment on a matter that that will effect every aspect of the club going forward .
Till later all
Today has been a better day on CQN than some of late
good debate,questions ,answers & opinions.
Well done to all for their input.
enjoywhereweareatthismomentcsc
Is rogic a holding mid? Not from what I’ve seem so far so how Will our new signing hinder his development? Goin by that logic sign nobody an play all young guys
Ten Men
True, but all the activity will happen tomorrow. If Baines goes to Man U we could have got Buttner. As I said, the incompetence is bad enough. The lies just puts salt in the wounds.
Paul67,
I think Miller thought he’d made it. Hope Watt hasn’t fallen into the same trap.
Good Afternoon.
Interesting and positive analysis Paul.
However, I think that the squad, as strengthened above, will be added to by a number of free agents.
There are a far greater number of players becoming free agents these days, and a greater number who are taking matters into their own hands by effectively buying out their contracts so that they can then negotiate with new clubs.
If Celtic were really inundated with enquiries from quality players saying that they are interested in coming to Celtic Park, you can bet that some of them will, at the end of this window, be left with a year or less left on their contracts.
Agents will see the opportunity to make a buck by negotiating the termination of certain contracts by mutual consent so that their clients can gain the benefit of a substantial signing on fee which the buying clubs will pay instead of a purchase fee.
Accordingly, I think you will find that there will be more players to come in on this basis.
Rumours are already starting……
WITS – They are a very good team,no doubt that.
I wouldn’t say that they are a great side just yet though.
Let’s hope Mayo put them to the sword on the 22nd.
Very arrogant supporters the Jackeen fans are.
any update on Lustig?
Hes been immense of late.
16 Roads
Bitter little man
Mayo I like and wouldnt begrudge them a title,long overdue
But may the best team win
VP
Is that because you lack the intelligence to understand the point?
Lennon said he felt he had no help a week or two ago. The happy clappers took this as an opportunity to question the support of the mine shafters. Lennon has now come out to clarify that he meant he was not happy about the club selling players without having replacements in place.
I’m not a happy clapper or a mine shafter but I can see when the club gambles CL qualifications for a quick buck. I’m happy with most of the signings as well so it’s not like I’m complaining about them (of course I’d have liked Finnbogason in but who in their right mind wouldn’t?)
Your post just makes you sound like an ignoramus.
Have to agree with those who think our lack of a genuine goal scorer is a concern
Paul talks about our CL strategy and as always talks a lot of sense – yes against better teams we will play more on the break
However Paul neglects to mention that we will only play 6 games in the CL initially at least
We play the vast bulk of our football in Scotland
In Scotland we know now that we will win the league by a distance – even with this current squad.
Anything else would be a disaster and sacking offence – no disrespect to the other teams.
If the club want people to turn up on a regular basis the they need to be entertained
IMHO that means goals,goals and more goals
When you are outspending your competitors by a fact of ten or more – that is not too much to ask for
The fact that we were trying quite frantically to sign the chap from Peterborough suggests that the club acknowledge that we are short in the forward department
I have been watching CFC since the late 60s and always thought that we were always prepared to go that bit further to get goal scorers
From that point of view and I entirely accept that Pukki might be one – but his record so far would suggest not – from that point of view it seems that NFL has been let down somewhat by our board.
HH
GTTF
Celtic will have known for at least a week that the Baines transfer would be a last day job, therefore attention should have switched to Plan B, C or D.
It is no one’s fault but the clubs that we don’t have another left back.
Aulheid
Excellent blog and every point made is relevant
Paul67 / all
Personally I don’t think our transfer activity is closed, yet.
There are a lot of good unsigned players out there who could do a job for us as either starters or back up.
A couple I would prefer we avoided go by the names of Sebo and Healy.
Wouldn’t it be amusing if one or other re-appeared at one of Glasgow’s lesser lights !
On a more concerning note, is we only have one game before Milan.
I am not sure how practical it is, but a few behind closed doors to get the new guys bedded in would be beneficial.
Snake Pilssen – “no Celtic fan wants to see Celtic lose”.
You obviously didn’t see KevJungle’s post before the Shaktar game last week.
Auldheid..,
That was some spiel pal well impressed, even managed to bring in socialism well done, inescapable point being the PLC are legally responsible to maximise profit irrespective of all your claims of noble intentions and responsibilities of the board they are there to make a buck and if they don’t the corporate investors will crucify them.
As for blaming the players, sorry I go to watch the players and I put them in there with actors, the better the actor the better show, if it costs a bit extra to get a good one then so be it, however if yer willing to pay a fortune for a cardboard cut out that’s no the cut outs problem now is it.
After the discussion. We had the other day about the board no paying minimum wage to Celtic staff and you somehow still manage to have sympathy for them and their objectives, honestly ?
Croppybhoy
“However Paul neglects to mention that we will only play 6 games in the CL initially at least
We play the vast bulk of our football in Scotland
In Scotland we know now that we will win the league by a distance – even with this current squad.
Anything else would be a disaster and sacking offence – no disrespect to the other teams”
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All of that is 100% correct. It is possibly precisely the reason we can’t entice a decent striker to come to us…
Tlwio
Chairbhoy – directors have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of their shareholders – they can be subject to legal action if they do not.
I think in Celtic’s while there may not be a perogatoive from smaller shareholders who are also supporters, the fiscal bottom line and profit is something our major shareholder is very interested in. And the club is run for him.
Spurs have been very poor today.
All muscle and no creativity.
Phyllis Dietrichson
Experience has taught me to ignore mad people :)
Is paul 67 our version of jack irvine ;)
Evening all.
Sorry to change the topic but just something that occured to me today. At what point in time, roughly, did football fans start singing at matches. Certainly when you see old black and white cup final clips there doesn’t appear to be any organised chants etc. Wonder which club started it all (serious question).
Jobo
Malone Bhoy in support of Wee Oscar
17:32 on
1 September, 2013
VP
Is that because you lack the intelligence to understand the point?
—————————————————————————————-
Aye you are probably correct…I also lack the intelligence to understand
the basic principal of support…is that the same as berate?
Please enlighten me oh great one….hope you fall of your high horse..
it isn’t a white charger by chance?
scotlands shame
Is rogic a holding mid? Not from what I’ve seem so far so how Will our new signing hinder his development? Goin by that logic sign nobody an play all young guys
————
Don’t know if you watched the youtube clips of our new signing? But he played all over midfield, holding, pushing forward, to me he didn’t look like a holding mid, looked to have much more skill to to his game than that.
He also said himself that he prefers to play box to box but is of course willing to play anywhere.
Just think he will play in the position I was wanting Rogic to play this season, but can’t see that happening now.
WITS – Hahaha! :)
And there is the reason why everybody else is praying for a Mayo victory!
Such arrogance.
Just logged in boys so don’t know if this already posted.
Twitter.
1.2.9″an Agreement includes any form of arrangement,whether or not in writing and whether or not legally binding” WTF http://t.co/dZIlqCJDaC
2.4.4 So Sevco “irrevocably acknowledges under UEFA it is ineligible to participate in UEFA comps” so SFA memb effectively brand new(Art 12)
5WA 2.1 Why didn’t SPL Lawyer Rod McKenzie instruct LNS that Sevco(TRFCL) were liable for any SPL sanctions,instead LNS fined RFC(IL) 250k?
5WA 2.1 states Sevco were to be “liable and responsible for the purpose of imposition of sanctions by the SPL” So why was oldco fined??
Jobo
I did ask you yesterday why east Kilbride didnt have songs
chairbhoy
16:00 on 1 September, 2013.
I agree with most of the points you made and the creation of the celtic triangle is obviously being equated for.
Still first and foremost it’s the team on the park that will determine the bank balance.
All most fans wanted was a high profile signing (a bum off the seat when he gets possession)
The board failed the fans in this.
I see pluses and minuses in both arguments on the cqn seesaw, always will :-))
P.s. From the last blog…a manic day.
I think there is significance in where Tony Watt has been sent on trial. Belgium is producing an abundance of young talented footballers. They tend to have good discipline and a different attitude to Scots youth. Hopefully this different social/disciplined athlete environment will benefit Tony. Away from the nightclub/party influences of Glasgow may help him mature into the man/footballer, I think he can be.
Good luck Tony Watt. Come back and be a Hoops hero.
I don’t always agree with Canamalar’s posts. However, I recognise that he is passionate about Celtic. He has embarked on a courageous mission to put supporters’ concerns to the Board by tabling a motion at the AGM. As things stand he cannot get his motion on the agenda. To do that needs the support of 35 supporters who have a minimum of £100 worth of shares.
I don’t know whether he will succeed but I do know that if he is successful in having his motion included in the agenda he will have opened a new era in highlighting supporters’ concerns. While his questions might well be swept aside this time round, the marker will have been put down and more and more questions can be asked at future AGMs. It could eventually lead to supporter representation on the Board but unless he gets the necessary number s to support him his work will have been in vain. It’s one thing to come onto blogs such as this and to sound off. Blogs are often dismissed as “hot air” and certainly some posts are just that. It’s another thing entirely to enter the lion’s den and confront the Board with legitimate concerns. It’s time for action. Surely to God there are enough supporters on this blog to step forward and ensure that we can take the first step in making our concerns known. Time is running out. I fear that if Canamalar is let down this time we will never be heard at an AGM. On the other hand, if he is successful the mechanism is there to be used by CQNers in the future.
Neganon @ 17;36,
Quite, that’s why I said shareholders rather than. Shareholding.
Hail Hail
auldheid/canamalar
Good morning gents.
As always, two of the posters whose posts I always read. So, to see the two of you engaged in this discussion is most enjoyable.
I was, in fact, the person who raise the issue of the nature of the PLC (by reference to Dulles S.J.’s ecclesiology, and then by comparison to the Toronto Maple Leafs – or Maple Laughs, as they are known due to their record of futility. They have not won the cup since 1967, but have sold out their stadium for something like every game going back to the 1960’s).
As usual, there is a lot of truth in Auldheid’s thoughts. Can we get that man a seat on the Board?
One thought on the whole fan/board thing… most North American Sports are moving to some form of salary cap/income sharing …. which has made the NFL, and the NBA obscenely rich…. even though the owners claim they are losing money… its nonsense in reality).
People like David Stern talk about a partnership between the owners and the players… but, what they overlook is that it is not a simple two party partnership … owners… the owners ‘pay’ the players with someone else’s money …. THE FANS’ money!
As Auldheid pointed out, the goal of a PLC is to maximize profit… but, not necessarily for everyone… that is why there are different classes of shares….
Celtic PLC is in a fortunate position in that people dont approach their investments in Celtic in the way that they would look at other investments …. for the average punter, we dont buy shares to make money…. but DD did buy celtic as an investment…. and he and the Board do count on, if not prey upon, the average punter’s love for Celtic…
On that note, Canamalar… when the first share issue came out, my family was in Canada, and we had a difficult time purchasing shares…. were told they had to be purchased by a british person in trust… so my dad’s sister bought his shares for him (not sure they were ever transferred to him)
so, a few years ago, I bought a few shares (plus one for my dad, and one each for my four nieces and nephews, just so that they get the disclosure, etc, and would feel more of a connection).
My shareholding is negligible, which is why I haven’t signed up for your initiative (i think I read that we had to hold 100 shares). While I am not rich (although I did date a stunningly gorgeous billionairess once… sigh!), I am in the fortunate position of being able to pick up a few more shares, so I will look into that this week, and hopefully then will be in a position to sign your petition. It is the least I can do to say thank you for your hard work.
it is nice that you can discuss (and not always agree upon) these important issues with passion, but also thought, courtesy and respect to each other (unlike some of the newer posters on here). Guys like you, and our host, are why I keep reading CQN.
Cheers lads.
Phyllis Dietrichson 17:35 on 1 September, 2013
Snake Pilssen – “no Celtic fan wants to see Celtic lose”.
You obviously didn’t see KevJungle’s post before the Shaktar game last week.
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Ole Kev just tries to get a reaction – and it usually works.