The transfer window closed yesterday with Celtic bringing in 10 players in total, six purchased and four season-long loan signings. Positions filled were:
A Goalkeeper
Left and right backs
Three central midfielders
One winger
Three strikers, one of whom has already played on the wing
Only central defence was not added to. Maik Nawrocki, who was out on loan last term, got a great move to Lens, although he suffered an ACL injury this week. This leaves us with four central defenders, which sounds light, although to be fair, five sounds too many to keep happy (ask Maik).
We have a glut of players who will compete for the No. 8 role: Mika Baur, Oliver Sorensen, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke McCowan, although some can fill other roles, including the No. 6. This position, occupied by Callum McGregor since the departure of Scott Brown five years ago, is the strategic gap I am sure the club are keen to fill.
For several seasons, Callum played more football than anyone else in the world game. He is almost always fit and a succession of managers have wanted him on the field whenever possible. Celtic need to bridge two competing demands: Callum to control as much of our game as possible, while giving enough time to bed-in a successor. That job has to start soon.
I could not be happier with the acquisition of Camilo Duran (24) and Kasper Hogh (25). Both in their prime with established Champions League credentials. It’s still early days, but how we managed to acquire Camilo for less than £5m is incredible. I get Kyogo-type vibes from him. Kasper gives us a dimension to our play that’s been missing for some time. What Martin does tactically when everyone is fit, will be interesting.
When early in the summer Martin talked about wanting Kelechi Iheanacho back at the club I was in despair. Kelechi’s cameos were crucial for us last season, but he offered no development and no up-surprises; the opposite of a coherent strategy. The embarrassment of then failing to land a player we had just allowed an option to expire on, gave a shambolic impression. Fortunately, that was not the whole picture.
I watched Argentina-Egypt at the World Cup with disappointment as I was sure Haissem Hassan’s outstanding display would take him beyond our reach. On the game’s highest stage and against the finalists, he stole the show. He is the most direct winger we have had in years (which will not always work for him). Fans of all colours are frustrated when wingers recycle the ball and the attacking team reverts to a horseshoe of doom. You will not seem much of that from Haissem, he will commit defenders more than anyone in Scottish football; watch them double-up on him.
Tactically it might not fit, but a line-up with Hassan on one wing, Jota on the other, with Hogh in front and Duran just off him would be interesting.
The central mid position looks to be where we have been most strategic. Sorensen (24) is the oldest and most experienced recruit. Baur is 22 and still has scope to develop. Joel van den Berg’s exclusion from the European squad indicates his limited game-time thus far. He is 19, away from home for the first time and will learn his trade in the Scottish Premiership.
Kieran Tierney needs a deputy and we need Liam Scales to be playing in central defence, so the addition of loanee Landon Emenalo (18) is certainly required. He’s young and like Joel, needs to be deployed carefully. One of Jordan Lotomba’s main assets is that he can play left back, as well as his more regular right back role. Liam will hopefully be fourth choice left back now and will remain in the middle.
Sam Johnstone (33) collected a runners-up medal with England at the Euros two years ago. After a traumatic season with Wolves, when they were cannon fodder in the EPL, Celtic offer the goalkeeper a chance to reset. It’s not clear if he will replace Viljami Sinisalo, I suspect Martin has an open mind of the subject right now.
Out went our beloved Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, together, key architects of Celtic’s current five-in-a-row run. They leave having given us lifetime memories and our eternal thanks. Arne Engels brought in £22m. This surprised many, but he is still only 22 and like Mika, has plenty of road ahead. We got £3m for Johnny Kenny (23). I predict he will move gain for double this price. Honourable mention too for Stephen Welsh, especially for that last minute equaliser for 10-man Motherwell on a Wednesday night in February.
A couple of points on transfer business. Sales brought in a reported £46m, while we spent £30m (plus unreported loan fees). These figures do not and should not equate. Total spend over a business cycle should equate to total earnings. A healthy model for clubs like Celtic is to earn from transfers to spend on wages. You do not need to look too far away to learn what happens when clubs our size are net spenders.
Also, we lost the Champions League qualifier, which was a failure on the club. It was not because “we did not sign players before then”, as I heard repeatedly on the radio on my way to the game on Wednesday. Signing players before these games, then signing players after them, is good.
Did we do enough to win the title again? We’ll see. As we discussed above, it is early days, but if feels like the best window we have had since Ange was doing his thing. It is coherent and aligned to a strategy I recognise.
Newco ran us close last season and, like a half-arsed parent over-compensating for a lack of love by buying the kids expensive gadgets, out-spent us. I am not convinced by their work, but money has been deployed and we must recognise the threat.
Hearts are a latent worry. They upgraded their coach and will continue to challenge. Their win at Hibs last night is a portent of how well-prepared they are. More immediately, St Mirren also have a better manager than they had a year ago and host a top-of-the-table clash against Celtic tomorrow. It already feels like a significant game.
786 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- ...
- 21
- »
Celtic corner.
Madra Rua, didn’t it hit the defender straight off Yang’s boot too, prior to even reaching the keeper?
Donovan is being left isolated with a fast/skillfull winger
Saved on the line. Corner
Cheated again, that was a stonewall pen
grrrr CCV free header in midfield – decides on a high looping toward yang (who never wins a loose ball) , ccv has two player free to his left .
BigChipsUK on 5th September 2026 8:40 pm
Madra Rua, didn’t it hit the defender straight off Yang’s boot too, prior to even reaching the keeper?
I think so. Terrible decision
scales pushed in the box – the fastest VAR check you will ever see
Baur showing a good range of passing
Yang does well, keeper holds cross
Two handed push on the back of Scales, the ref and VAR defo saw it
Celtic better team but need a goal
Scales one was a penalty. We are being robbed here.
We.ve got some very suspect officiating to deal with here. No way we deserve to be behind
Kudos to St Mirren, defending really well.
Hassan cross, easy for keeper
Duran through, chance
great play from yang , took the pass well from Hassan , drives into box , no end pass. ccv again heads it straight to them . Celtic so dominant but still Mirren dangerous on the break. Yang playing well but he doesnt have a left foot – I can t stand players not in theor best positions – Liam Scales is NEVER a forward playing left back.
Hassan is putting loads of great passes into the box.
Saints keeper looks like he is having one of those nights- everything straight at him – poor finishing or good positioning?
More wimp defending from Trusty and Scales.
We are sure not playing like champions
Another Celtic pen claim
HT
we’ve seen many weak celtic central defenders though the years – I just didnt expect it with a Martin O’neil side!
HT Physicality and cheating 1 – Celtic -0
Wasn’t worried after the pen, thought we would steamroll them. We kinda have but no end product. Need to up the pace a little 2nd half but keep an eye on our right side as their guy on that side is rapid
We’ve played really well. Hassan and Duran terrify them. Their keeper has been excellent. Scales at left back is horrible though. He’s nowhere near nimble enough. The offside call was a disgrace.
Plenty time
The equaliser is coming. I only wish it came before HT.
We need to come firing out the blocks and get it quickly.
Squeaky bum time if it’s still 1-0 on 70 minutes.
How come all of Skys replays showed the defenders foot in front of Durans but the frame var shoed it was the other way round.???
Nygren either Hero or Zero . What a strange player.
i would take Donovn off at HT,He is a tackle away from a red card
Need to take Donovan off as he will be sent off both wingers for Celtic flattering to deceive , physical team st mirren and Trusty cannot handle the CF Scales showing why he isn’t a full back
Their goal came from poor goalkeeping by Sinisalo and mad defending by Scales . You are only as strong as your weakest link(s) , as they say. Loads of posession in the first half but we now need to make it count
Two mistakes in succession in the defensive red zone (by Vil and Liam).
In pro game it usually leads to a problem.
If either one hadn’t happened we’d be fine.
VAR decision needs escalated.
Their luck won’t hold. We’ll get through.
After 45 minutes Celtic had had 68% possession. So, give or take, Celtic had had the ball for 30 minutes and Saints for 15 minutes. The fouls conceded were 3 by Saints and 8 by Celtic.
So the ref had awarded a freekick against Celtic every ~2 minutes that they were out of possession, whereas for Saints it was once per 10 minutes.
Add to this a penalty being awarded to Saints for a handball which was not proven to have happened inside the penalty area, a perfectly good Celtic goal being disallowed, and two clear penalties for Celtic not awarded.
Questions have to be asked.
On BBC text commentary…
32 mins
St Mirren 1-0 Celtic
The initial still we saw is different to the one VAR have used to rule that goal out.
I’m sure Martin O’Neill will have something to say about that.
Nygren needs to get more involved.