Value of January signings

567

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!

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

567 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 15

  1. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Sell Engels for £25m offer Hibs £5m for Mulligan and Udinese £7m for Lennon Millet.

  2. As we haven’t confirmed the two signings from yesterday can anyone clarify if there is a reason for the hold up? Nothing being mentioned anywhere about either of them. I assume they must be signed, sealed and delivered before 11pm.

  3. the long wait is over on

    Much as bashing the board has , rightly on many levels, become the norm here and among the fans generally, if we do get 25m , even if it includes add-ons , for Engels and if that windfall of serious money is spent well on strengthening the team ( including the midfield which needs beefed up in any event) then the board deserve some kudos.

     

     

    I am perfectly well aware that there are some serious “if” s in there…

  4. TLWIO, perhaps a touch premature. Haven’t you been in this movie before?

     

     

    Nothing about this lot would surprise me.

  5. leftclicktic on 2nd February 2026 4:12 pm

     

     

    If player wants away take the money.

     

     

    *My da once told me that Celtic NEVER keep an unhappy player, that’s when we sold Bobby Collins and Willie Fernie, however it wisnae that they were unhappy just that we needed the money to pay for the floodlights wtf

  6. bournesouprecipe on

    THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 4:21 PM

     

     

    £25M……………just think of the replacement players that disnae get us.

  7. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    Re floodlights at Celtic Park.

     

    I was a nine year old but remember my late father talking about the lights.Anyone remember the English side that provided the opposition?

     

    1959 CSC

  8. According to SKY they have, very surprised at that, I doubt Engels will be happy , looking at the wages he would get. It is a huge offer for him I think.

  9. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    dessybhoy on 2nd February 2026 1:57 pm

     

     

    Why is NF not interested in Raskin?

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  10. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    GENE …..rapid response.Yes…Wolves.

     

    Do you remember the left back we signed from them?

  11. Rejected 25m for a player not worth 6m imo. We will never get an offer like that again (.unless they come back with 4th) It tells me we haven’t been looking for midfielders of that ilk. Where will his head be at if we reject that

  12. From the previous thread:

     

     

    BURNLEY78 – some good points, and I agree with many of them. In respect of the need for change on the board, I’m careful not to advocate for a change in the ownership structure.

     

    I very much subscribe to the “Some just want a proper structure to be in place and proper governance with capability at various levels” to quote your post. Transparency, and accountability.

     

    Truth is, as you also say, when that first tranche of PE money arrives it is a slippery slope, and nothing that happens next will put the fans desires ahead of their interests. Doesn’t mean that ownership change should not happen, though there are many scenarios worse than a billionaire fan as a passive investor. A transition to a fan ownership model over time would be ideal, but so difficult to effect. Interesting that you point to that which Peter Lawwell could perhaps have contributed in this regard. I wholeheartedly agree that the club missed a trick, and this is in fact a perfect example of how our board has failed to innovate and position for the future. Of all those involved at Celtic, I believe that PL is a true fan first and foremost, and just as James Forrest got to live the dream in the hoops for almost 20-years, PL had the same privilege in a suit. I remember coverage of a Celtic Graves Society occasion which left me feeling deeply appreciative we had a guy like him in the big chair. A great servant, who made a clumsy move upstairs at a moment when more suitable opportunities were waiting for him.

     

    That said, while I purposely don’t single out individuals, our board/leadership needs to be changed. There is too much evidence of a malaise which they seem unwilling to acknowledge or incapable of correcting, and clear failures have consequences. I disagree regarding the cash reserves: because of the UEFA riches, football as a business is in a growth phase (even in Scotland) and leverage is more strategic than prudence. This is particularly true for Celtic, as unlike so many clubs we can realistically target domestic success and CL participation.

     

     

    AN TEARMANN – Sorry, but I don’t know that any of us are close enough to the workings of the board to propose much more than a process or framework for change, and ensure that there is an understanding of what that potentially looks like. Personally, I prefer to consider that I’m not agitating for change because I’m unhappy, I’m advocating for change because I see the opportunity. Minority shareholders are a long way from having a meaningful role to play, which is sadly why the fan protests are immediately more effective, and perhaps the only way to create. Organized bhoycotts will bring about dialogue that cannot be sought through conventional corporate channels because the board is demonstrably intransigent and closed to the idea of proper fan engagement. There are outlets for minority ownership interests to aggregate resources, and here is one particular group that I support, and that I would encourage fans to be familiar with;

     

    https://celticsupporters.net/#About-us

  13. Lennon Miller is not good enough for Celtic. We looked at him despite what the MSM said and he wasn’t good enough for Brendan. To quote him as a replacement for Arne is crazy. Lennon is not liking Italy because he can’t get enough games. He may become a player with better coaching but we need first team players not projects.

     

     

    I suspect Steve Clarke for including him

  14. We still would need to spend it or its going to Rachel Reeves. Looks like no preparation by the club on midfielders.

  15. Bhoyjoebelfast on 2nd February 2026 4:45 pm

     

     

    Yes , it was Wolves and I was there !!

     

    If my memory serves accurately, they waited until just before KO and put on two rows of the new lights. We thought that was the full show and were reasonably impressed. Then the next two rows….then the next and finally the next “! `Impressed` doesn`t cover it !!

  16. Gene on 2nd February 2026 4:45 pm

     

     

    Wolves ?

     

     

    *correct, 2 back to back League Champions with a star studded lineup at the time which also included for me local lad Malcolm Finlayson in goal, he had actually turned out for us in a reserve side when we were short of a goalie while with Renfrew Juniors and played that well that he was offered terms after it but turned us down as he had promised Millwall he would join them

  17. bournesouprecipe on

    BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 4:50 PM

     

    My tuppence?

     

     

    —————-

     

     

    That’s more than some on here would have given for Arne Engels

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    DENIABHOY on 2ND FEBRUARY 2026 4:56 PM

     

    I can’t believe that bid has been turned down. Engels will be livid.

     

    ———-

     

     

    Will we be able to tell from his performances?

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 15