Value of January signings

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After the fright we got at the Falkirk Stadium last month there was significant trepidation ahead of yesterday’s game.  The newly-promoted side who exited the League Cup after a 4-1 defeat at Celtic Park in August have grown in stature and look certain for a top six finish.

For all that Falkirk put into this game, they did not have the players to make the clinical difference.  For that quality, Celtic turned to Tomas Cvancara and Benjamin Nygren.  As every football fans knows, a new striker needs to get off the mark early.  Otherwise, he is cursed with “XX games without a goal” references.  Cvancara’s contribution at Tynecastle a week earlier gave Celtic the lead.  His deft header in the first half against Falkirk turned a low-probability chance into a welcome lead.

You and I discuss Benji Nygren regularly.  If we win anything this season, it will be significantly due to the goals he has scored and created.  There is an expectation when he lines up a shot which does not exist with any other Celtic player.

Man of the Match yesterday deservedly went to Julian Araujo.  He successfully linked with Yang in the first half and even-more so with James Forrest in the second.  Martin O’Neill can reflect that our win was largely due to the value of our two January signings.

A point in yesterday’s officials.  Like the referee, I didn’t see the two-handed push on Daizen Maeda which moved him into the way of Araujo’s shot.  Sebastian Tounetki scored with the rebound.

As a consequence of an attacking player being fouled inside the penalty box, he was adjudged to be offside and a goal was disallowed.  It is scenarios like this which VAR was intended to deal with.  That VAR confirmed the offside is inexplicable.

Let’s hope for a busy evening!

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  1. The window has been a massive failure ! Our board, after admitting they made mistakes , had a chance to redeem themselves. They had an opportunity to align with the fans desires and show intent on winning the league. Instead , and worse, they have given the fans , the staff , the players a massive middle finger.

     

     

    80m in the bank , 15-20 for europa and we loan wingers and strikers. We need quality and physicality.

     

     

    The players have run themselves into the ground – MON cannot rotate coz he doesn’t trust Bernardo Hatate Mccowan and Murray.

     

     

    Even Tierney and McGregor publicly crying for help.

     

     

    I’m not buying this “it’s difficult pish”. It’s difficult when you have no strategy and no cash.

     

     

    As it stands – I will never forgive them. 8 hrs to crawl out of the gutter

  2. DeniaBhoy on 2nd February 2026 1:37 pm

     

     

    “Pep, you got any young CHs that need more game time and European experience?” “You mean like Simpson-Pusey? sling your hook”

     

     

    *3 managers didnae fancy him so must be something wrong somewhere, mibbees a bit like aliadière with WGS

  3. the long wait is over on

    Burnley78 on 2nd February 2026 3:11 pm

     

     

    Does flying in by , say, Ryanair count as jetting in..?

     

     

    Could be wrong but I suspect the days of players being flown in on David Murray’s private jet ( if it ever actually did happen) are long since gone.

  4. Quite simply Engels is a show pony, get rid of him.

     

     

    He’s a soulless fecker whose interactions with the rest of the team signals he believes he’s better than them rather than connecting with them.

     

     

    He carries his price tag like a badge of honour rather than connecting with his teammates.

     

     

    Am I wrong?

  5. ‘we tried right up to the last minute to get him in,but we will just have to go with what we’ve got….’

  6. bournesouprecipe on

    Anecdotes

     

     

    JSP didn’t fancy getting fit playing in the B team

     

     

    Attitude CSC

  7. bournesouprecipe on

    THE BADA BING on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 3:23 PM

     

     

     

    SSN just said Forest will put a 3rd bid in for Engels

     

     

    —————-

     

     

    Fozzy on it ,…………. trying to get a replacement

  8. bournesouprecipe on

    Celtic dither over Bundesliga 2 – midfielders Hamm Strung or Torn Kaff but confident of landing Brazilian striker – Kanta Costapenne

     

     

    I’ll set them up CSC

  9. the long wait is over on

    the Bada Bing on 2nd February 2026 3:29 pm

     

    Kenny could be going to Bolton on loan

     

     

    ====

     

     

    Much as I think he simply isn’t good enough to play for us we surely wouldn’t let him go without another striker 100% lined up to come in , would we?

     

     

    Would we..?

  10. glendalystonsils on

    bournesouprecipe on 2nd February 2026 3:18 pm

     

    I’m sure I red on here Raskin was ten times better than Engels?

     

     

    If 10 Engelses makes a Raskin , NF will be3 readying their £173m bid right now .

  11. Forest up offer to £25 million for Engels,bye….£20 million upfront, £5 million in add ons

  12. bournesouprecipe on

    TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 3:41 PM

     

    BSR

     

     

     

    New goalkeeper…Hans Luke Shakey

     

    ———————————

     

     

    👏👏👏

  13. Cannot see Celtic not accepting that bid. The fact Forrest of made three bids tells me Celtic didn’t close the door on them after the previous two bids.

  14. In a properly functioning football department it’s a no brainer , we cannot have him leave and not bring 2 in, because I would let Hatate go if there are offers, Mulligan is a good shout for 1 position he will now cost 5m

  15. Time to get on the blower to Bodo and snap up a couple of their best players for the cost of an Engels.

  16. bournesouprecipe on

    GLENDALYS

     

     

    Barry Ancelotti…….owned BR……..read that here too.

     

     

    Thing is if we sell AE for £20M will he still have been a Brendan signing dud? 😂

  17. the long wait is over on

    DeniaBhoy on 2nd February 2026 4:07 pm

     

    Engels unsurprisingly has let it be known he is keen on the move.

     

     

    ====

     

     

    can you blame him?

     

     

    Premier league wages and all that

  18. Engels is not a show pony. He plays with a lot of effort and passion. Just not cut out for Celtic and the rough and tumble of Scottish football.

     

     

    Lewis Ferguson would be an upgrade. Lennon Millier knows the league. Silas Anderson.

     

     

    Hope Celtic have been making calls.

  19. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Are Forest going to throw in one if Sean Dyche’s kidneys to seal the deal? They’re desperate if they’ve increased their offer by £11m in 24 hours.

     

     

    You can’t turn down £25m for Engels… provided we can bring in someone decent to replace him. We can’t sacrifice the league for a player sale.

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