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

Will go back to the 2021 window we signed players a month after ange signed we literally had a skeleton squad and within the next month he had all the pieces in place except 2 players Hatate and Daizen who where being mooted as celtic players from the October.

Mind aswell 2021 outwith kyogo the 3 guys who assisted us massively had other options and only signed for us on the final day

Jota
GG
CCV

 

My head is with Prof and Shelby, but my heart is really with the panic merchants. Think we're all just desperate for some kind of statement signing at this point. We've got the lure, the cash and the space in the squad - just need the deals done.

 

2 offers made and left on table with a significant calibre of player is what I was told, I know people rip the pish but the wee guy I know has a decent return rate so am clinging to that CM and winger

 

We still have Ajeti

 

Well that's the thing isn't it. Souza was in the bag £8m all agreed celtic thought they had the final piece of ange jigsaw for summer window and we they scrambled to sign abilgaard. There will be a deadline but nobody outwith the agent and Nicholson will be privy to that

 

I'm not at the point of panic yet (and tbh, I probably won't be unless it's August and we're in a similar position) but I hope we really start to see some solid links over the next week.

The SD23 stuff probably hasn't helped, what seemed like a guy who was ITK saying we were breaking records and expecting 2 in and * all has happened.

We need a CB, LW and GK in before the end of July, at the very least, and I'd want us to also bring in a CM, LB and RW (excluding Jun) before the end of the window , albeit I think the latter 2 won't happen unless we shift Bernabei/Abada on.

 

It’s definitely the boredom! Thank * there’s been a pile of other sport on to take my focus off Celtic, but probably like everyone else, I’m looking forward to the rumour mill hitting overdrive and some big signings to be made. Now where’s my tennis racket/cricket bat/football/golf clubs, I need to get out of the house.

 

The one thing you can guarantee is behind the scenes there will be things happening and several moving parts.

You will have:
- Mark L and his department working on targets and deals, sounding out players and agents.
- Agents pushing players to us, some who we may consider.
- Offering new contracts to existing players
- Like Ange and Jota, Agents of our players sounding out interest from others, whose football departments may be considering some of them but will have multiple options in their position.

I doubt a couple of weeks ago a Jota replacement was high on our list but all of a sudden we need one. So things change.

We could be in that scenario again if someone comes for a Hatate, O’Riley, Abada, Starfelt or another player. We may not be keen to sell but if the player wants to go or the offer we receive is too good to turn down then their replacement becomes a priority.

I am not that bothered if we break our transfer record or not but I would like us to sign minimum 4 or 5 players that are capable of displacing a first team players so that we are improving. If we sell any more first team players I would like someone to replace them in addition.

In terms of positions, I would go -

- A Goalkeeper, Hart is in decline and I would like an upgrade here.
- Centre back we need someone to challenge for first team, (two if Starfelt goes).
- Left Back, a more physically impressive option, like Alastair Johnston but on the left.
- Box to box Centre midfielder, someone with good pace, strength and ball carrying ability.
- Winger someone with real ability on the ball, the Tete link may be a nonsense but I would like someone like that.

I do expect a few more to be signed but will depend on sales. I still expect a lot of players to move on.

Siegrist
Urhoghide
Scales
Soro
McCarthy
Shaw
Ajeti

All of them should be moved on if possible. It is time for Welsh to move on but the homegrown piece makes that difficult but he needs to move on for his own sake.

 

Hopefully we're doing good business under the radar as all the names apart from Rieder on the rumours page are very underwhelming for me. I need some good news this week Celtic!.

 

Can't disagree with that shopping list. Most essential is a winger, another centre half and a midfielder (either DM or BtB). At a push we could persevere with Joe for another year and Taylor's far from a terrible option.

I would like to see us move on some dead weight as well. We have a massive squad and whilst I expect Brendan to give more players their chance than Ange, we could do with cutting off players who are just adding to the wage bill. If we were ruthless about it, you could see 10+ players go and not miss them.

 

Yeah definitely loads going on, especially as those going out will affect what comes in.

I'm also not fussed about us breaking a transfer record. Spending the most doesn't guarantee success. The reality is in Modern football £10m won't buy you much unless you are buying someone with potential.

We will need Hart or Siegrist to go us to get a new keeper in. I do think we should try and replace the keeper while we still have a decent back up option. If it doesn't go well you at least have that back up for a year. We brought in Barkas when the only other options were Bain or Hazard and it cost us.

I think we need a CB and again I don't think we get one in unless Scales and Yuki go. Scales at the very least would get another SPL loan, Yuki might be come good after a loan in our league too.

Left back will only come in if Bernabei goes, but Rodgers may like him. We will see.

Box to box midfielder, I think we may see McGregor play more of that role with Hatate and Holm and Iwata play further back this season. An improvement may be needed but I don't think it's the most important thing.

Winger needs to be someone comfortable on both sides like Jota is/was. On the left we currently have Maeda, Johnston and Hacksa and on the right Abada, Forrest, Vata, Tilio. I like Maeda and Abada but I'd feel more confident with a bit of support for both.


Edit I do wish they'd drip feed a rumour, a bit boring right now

 

It's not the boredom either per se

It's the sheer lack of... ANYTHING!

We don't even have * rumors to contend with, something to assuage the panic.

For me it's definitely starting to approach a red line into * is happening territory.
It's a HUGE season ahead. For me, this title is so so important to keep our foot in the throat of Der Hun. A league win this season could see us dominate for over 5 years as Sevco are blowing their entire wad on another "55" gamble. And they WILL be stronger than the last 2 seasons.

Either the club are operating some sort of mad operation to contain leaks, or there genuinely is sweet * all happening. It's the likelihood of the latter that's starting to freak me out.

 

You seriously think nothing is happening?

This is a bit rich coming from me but you need to * settle down.

Scooping up 6 players for peanuts that no * else wants is a far cry from trying to go up a level and attract players who may have suitors elsewhere.

Just remembered why I swerve these transfer hysteria every year.