Not Actually that Crucial a Summer as of August 2023...beginning to now think everything isnt fine!

It will definitely be a crucial summer. We'll be going into Ange's third year, and while we've been excellent domestically, the next step is obviously Europe. It will be bitterly disappointing if we crash out again in the group stages. Last season we were unlucky, but this season it was definitely a missed opportunity, especially as Shakhtar were no great shakes. The problem here is that we had a reasonable group this season in the CL, so it will be surprising to see us get a decent draw again. The financial gap is massive, but we need to aim for European Football after Christmas at a minimum, although I'm secretly hoping that we can get to the round of 16 or quarter-finals of the EL, should we drop into it.

For that to happen we need to be realistic and add some real quality to the squad. The obvious position that needs upgrading is RW. Abada is a decent wee player but shrunk in the CL and he'll likely be off. So we need to replace him with better. Quality GK's are hard to find and Hart has done well but I think we should seriously look at some competition there. Same with LB. Taylor is a great fit for this system but I still worry about him in Europe because of his lack of physicality, he also isn't great defensively (See Van Veen's goal the other week). O'Riley, Kyogo, and Maeda were also disappointing last campaign. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but we simply cannot afford our big players to disappear again.

Last summer's transfers were hit-and-miss. We didn't recruit well enough to make a dent in Europe and that was evident. Bernabei has potential but is nowhere near ready to compete at the highest level. Haksabanovic ranges from useful to useless, and Mooy has been good but will he be influential in Europe next year? I don't know. In terms of our January signings, Iwata looks promising but again hasn't been tested at a higher level and it might be naive to suggest he will glide through European games, same for Kobayashi and Oh. For that reason, I think we need another strong, physical midfielder, another CB, and another striker.

So you're looking at:

- GK (to compete with Hart)
- LB (to push/replace Taylor)
- RW (with the quality to slot in immediately and match Abada's G+A)
- CM (to beef up options in the middle of the park)
- CB (to compete with Starfelt; i.e. a better Jenz)
- ST (to give us another option outwith Kyogo and Oh)

It should be a busy Summer, I hope that we can push the boat out and make a few statement signings. We have the money and we have Ange, but in order to make that next step I do feel like we need to improve the quality of the squad. I don't think Ange will let them take the *. It's time for us to change and improve from a position of strength if we're serious about levelling up as a club. If not, he'll be gone. I think we are guilty of sometimes getting carried away about how good we are in Scotland. Yes, we're pretty * good, but the litmus test is in Europe. For any great Celtic side, this is the case. We are relatively untested most weeks here, the step-up is huge and it can be a shock to the system.

Listen, the huns got to a European final just 12 months ago and were a penalty shootout away from winning it. With a bit of luck, there's no reason why we can't go on a run. However, I still think that we need to sharpen up defensively. I think our gung-ho approach is impractical for Europe. We need to learn to control games better, that was one of our biggest mistakes this season. Man City and Real Madrid know when to press and attack in stages. If Ange gets us playing in a similar way, I'll be a lot more optimistic about our chances.

 

I think we'll do more business this summer than some think.

Some of it forced by sales of key players and others shifting of the deadwood in the squad.

With Ange you can already see he did his succession-planning with Johnston before JJ left and similar with Oh with Giakoumakis - even though he's yet to really prove he can be a proper replacement.

The good thing is that all our big players leave on our terms and with automatic UCL qualification we also don't have to hang back til September to know our budget either.

I imagine the wheels will have been in motion planning for this window since 2022.

I think we could be looking at: GK x 2, LB, CB, CM, AM, RW, ST - potentially more if the sharks come for CCV, Hatate, Jota or Kyogo

 

We need a GK, LB, Quick and Agile CM and a RW as our priorities. I wouldn't be adverse to a CB coming in, but that might be for the January window.

Abada is 100% gone, and I think Turnbull and O'Riley will go with him. I also think we'll lose one of Jota/Hatate/CCV, so we'll obviously need to replace them.

I've no doubt Ange probably has a list of targets in mind already, very excited to see what we get.

 

I hope Ange is heavily backed to make a go of the Champions League. The board better not let Rangers be our benchmark to stay ahead of.

 

I think at the moment in time it’s dependent on who leaves, I’d imagine Abada is a certainty to go, same with Turnbull and a few other squad players. I’d be delighted if none of the core regulars go, however would also be hugely surprised. CCV injury could help keep him for one more season, Jota seems to be incredibly happy and settled here. Perhaps Hatate might be the one to go but again I hope not.

Although it will be hugely disappointing if and when we lose the likes of those players, whilst Ange is here I have full faith that they’re going to be adequately replaced and potentially even improved upon, the type of feeling I’ve never had previously when it’s come to our best players being linked with moves away.

I’d love a keeper to come in and instantly challenge Hart, a natural RW, another striker, potentially a beast of a CDM for Europe, however I think Iwata will have a massive impact next season, similar to the kind Hatate has this.

I’d imagine planning for summer and even further ahead is well underway and targets are already being sounded out.

 

Since improvements in the positions people have listed will cost a lot, I don't expect all positions to be covered this summer.

 

Buy Doig as we should've in the first place instead of Bernabei , loan out the later to either Italy or Spain ideally. Taylor doesn't have the engine , grit or defensive ability to be first choice LB.
Buy Solbakken as a replacement for the outgoing Abada , a problem position for us and an inverted , quick , powerful and skillful player would be perfect.
Buy In Beom Hwang and/or Hugo Vetlesen who both are good technically with great engines which are a must in our 8 positions.

That would do for me but we've no idea where and what big Ange will be looking at and we'll probably get a few signed we've never heard of.

 

It depends on who stays and who goes. Mccarthy got in our CL squad due to homegrown so it shows how much we lack there if Turnbull goes. They don't need to be First choice but we need to add a capable squad player.
Don't see the point of paying players not to be in our Euro squad. Abada will go so a rw obviously. Someone else will likely go I'm sure but there isn't anybody in our current team I want to go (not Inc Mccarthy or the dead wood on loan).
Currently non homegrown
1.Hart
2. AJ
3. CCV
4. Starfelt
5. Yuki
6. Bernabei
7. Mooy
8. O'Riley
9. Hatate
10. Iwata
11. Hacksa
12. Jota
13. Maeda
14. Abada
15. Kyogo
16. Oh
17. Siegrist

 

As Ange said, we need to keep pushing and not standstill. Apparently already have our targets and ready which is no surprise after the past few windows.

Likely looking at - GK, LB, RW, AM

And then on top of that replace any big players that leave. A centre back may also be on the list now after CCV possibly being out till September.

A big part will also be getting rid of the deadwood-
Bain, McCarthy, Barkas, Ajeti etc

Probably pick up some money for Turnbull and potentially Welsh.

 

I'd like us to have a smaller number of players vying for first team places, but with more rotation among them. This means not replacing every first team player who leaves.

 

Cracking post and I agree with your observations.

On transfers in I believe Ange has already hinted at he has some lined up that he wanted and others in mind if players leave. Looking at how Ange has operated to date I believe he will have a good grasp on which of our players are keen to be here next year and which ones are considering moving on much like Rogic and Bitton last year and Juranovic and Giakoumakis in January.

I suspect we will lose Abada as you say and I also think we may lose at least one other high profile player if not more. I am worried about the Hatate to Brighton rumour as with their two CMs being linked with moves away for big money, the success of Mitoma and their smart approach to transfers it wouldn’t surprise me. I also think Hatate is one who will want to at some point tear himself at a higher level. The Kyogo one at first I thought was nonsense but I worry he isn’t getting any younger and may do the same. CCV is bound to have interest he has been excellent since being here but hopefully the injury puts suitors off. O’Riley is also known to have admirers. By no means do I think they will all go but I feel at least one will.

There is then the Goalkeeping situation, I think we will bring at least one in. Hazard will definitely be off. Bain was linked with a move but not sure that will happen, however I think Siegrist may move on.

Another factor which I think will have an impact is our ability to move on those who are not contributing. We have a team of players Barkas, Hazard, Montgomery, Orhoghide, Scales, McCarthy, Shaw, Soro, Ideguchi, Johnston and Ajeti. Guys like Hazard, Montgomery, Shaw and Orhoghide won’t eat up much wages but the others will all have decent wages so either sales or loans for them will be needed to make space. There is obviously the homegrown thing to consider too so Ange may sign someone who counts in that mould, no idea who right enough.

This is the acid test in terms of the club building from a position of strength. There are a few fundamental things I would say are different to Rodgers and Lennon tenures, the first being in a macro sense, the CL money is guaranteed with no qualifiers. Our bank balance is also significantly higher and Season ticket sales stronger than Lennon’s tenure. The manager is not in the Rodgers mould of starting to be at odds with the CEO either, in fact they seem to have a very good relationship.

However, if the board did play up and not back what Ange wants he will be off. I do think Nicholson seems to have a better handle on the mood music of the fans than Lawwell ever did though.

 

We need to sign at least 1 or 2 players that come in and are instant starters. Other than Johnstone, Last couple of windows we've signed players that add to the squad but haven't really had a run of games. Don't get me wrong the players brought in ie Mooy and Oh etc have done very well or looked promising and may be starters in future like Iwata or Kobi but we need instant upgrades on a couple if we have any chance of winning games in the CL. A RW that is better than Maeda and Abada for a start, an attacking midfielder that's quicker and better than O'Riley. Possibly an upgrade on Taylor as well although I don't think that's the most important as he does a great job. Would have said new GK too but if Joe can put in more performances like the one on Sunday the he'll be fine. I have no issue with Kyogo being our striker going into the CL he was going through a sticky patch at the time, I believe if he was on the form he has been past 6 months he'd have put those chances away. Maeda nowhere near technical enough to play at that level unfortunately but then again he did well at the WC lol.

In terms of interest in our top 3 players I think we'll be lucky to keep hold of Hatate would have said CCV will get some interest from down south but hopefully his injury staves them off.

 

Rangers reached the final playing defensive counter attacking football. We don't play that way, it's no coincidence the teams of the past ie Strachan, Lennon, Walter Smith sides all played defensive Park the bus football and did well in Europe. We all know how we I'll play under Ange that isn't a knock on our system but in order to utilise it we need better quality it's as simple as that otherwise expect more drubbings. If we can defend as a team like we did on Sunday then I reckon we'll do OK.

 

Regarding your previous comments on spending, I'd say a big part of the £25-30m figure you mention would be spent on a keeper. If we want a CL quality keeper who can play on the deck, that means we have to shop at big clubs, asking their number 2-s if they fancied becoming number 1 here. Same with any Starfelt replacement.

 

That kind of transfer is what we have to try. Break out Vickers-level fees for a GK and if he leaves, a Starfelt replacement.
A strong back 4 and Iwata should see us defend far better in Europe next season.

Sacrifice getting a RW if necessary to bolster the defense. Mikey Johnston will be able to help out, as well as Vata.