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

From our pal Stephen




CELTIC find themselves trapped in a perfect storm. While head of recruitment Mark Lawwell squirrels away nuts for winter, the manager spends his summer fixing a team which wasn’t broken. Thanks to iffy recruitment, key departures and injuries, it is now.

For the first time since May 2018, the champions have failed to score in two consecutive domestic matches.

They crashed out of the Viaplay Cup in Kilmarnock after a woeful performance. On Saturday, against a St Johnstone side which had lost five of their six games so far, they could have played for 40 days and 40 nights and still failed to beat visiting Saints keeper Dimitar Mitov.

When Brendan Rodgers warned fans that things would be different this time around, laboured attacking football wasn’t the change they had in mind.

Given the circumstances of his departure in February 2019, Rodgers had to tread carefully. Humility was necessary. Expressing a willingness to leave the signings to others and coach the players he was given, the Northern Irishman has toed the party line.

Come the close of the transfer window on Friday night, an alarmed support expect to see evidence of control. Signs of the clear, calm management which delivered seven trophies during his first spell in charge. Some evidence that their willingness to overlook that Leicester City business was, in fact, justified.

Seeking four or five new signings, they want the manager to take a firm hand on the tiller and deliver quality over quantity.

During his first spell in charge, Rodgers stamped his authority on the team by signing Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele and Kolo Toure. Latterly, the signings were less successful.

Before playing Rangers on Sunday, Celtic need more signings of that ilk and less of the Kundai Benyu and Eboue Kouassi variety. There have been enough of those already.

‘It’s clear if you see the team, if you go back to my first time here, the team was fast and dynamic, got through the lines quickly, created and scored goals,’ said Rodgers after a flat 0-0 draw.

‘So this is what we’ll eventually get to. But we’re missing those certain profiles, so hopefully we can bring that into the squad and be a lot cleaner and a lot quicker in our play.’

A slightly damning summation of the recruitment thus far, Honduran winger Luis Palma will arrive from Greek side Aris in a £3.5million deal. He’s unlikely to be the last.

Instead of watching Thursday’s Champions League draw with their feet up on a Lennoxtown table, Celtic’s senior management will spend the day on the phones instead. Trying desperately to bring in the players who can help them avoid a humiliating experience against Europe’s elite.

Spared the indignity of Champions League qualifiers, it was never supposed to be like this. While Rangers rebuilt their squad in a hurry, Celtic were expected to augment their Treble-winning team with quality additions, bolstered by the certainty of £30m coming their way from UEFA.

Despite their healthy financial position, however, the Parkhead club seem fixated by their much-vaunted transfer model. This summer they spent £15m on six players for the future while inexplicably overlooking the requirements of the here and now.

Over the last two transfer windows, Celtic have signed Hyeon-gyu Oh, Yuki Kobayashi, Tomoki Iwata, Alistair Johnston, Marco Tilio, Hyun-jun Yang, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Odin Holm, Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke. Only Canadian right-back Johnston is an oven-ready first-team starter.

Josip Juranovic left for Union Berlin. Giorgos Giakoumakis quit for MLS. Jota jumped on the Saudi Arabian gravy train. Carl Starfelt was allowed to move to Spain. And, heading into the first meeting of the season with arch-rivals Rangers at Ibrox, the starting XI is now weaker. A footballing Samson shorn of its golden locks.




The Hoops are unlikely to entertain any offers for regulars, with a Bologna bid for Matt O’Riley booted out last week.

Reo Hatate is also attracting interest but Rodgers remains keen to get him on a long-term deal, despite the first proposal being rejected.

But fringe men are likely to move on, with Sead Haksabanovic among them.

The Montenegrin has yet to start under Rodgers and came on as a second-half sub on Saturday.

He posted a cryptic message on social media, stating, “If they don’t see your value, maybe you’re not at the right place”.

The 24-year-old wants regular games and is likely to be allowed to leave for the right offer.

Celtic’s third-choice keeper Benji Siegrist could also depart, while Rodgers has admitted James McCarthy will be allowed to find a new club.

Ismaila Soro and Albian Ajeti, who are both still on Celtic’s books, could move on or even agree pay-offs.

Hoops kid Rocco Vata is set to leave before Friday’s deadline with Verona leading the chase.

 

Sun stating we're after 5 players before deadline. Mentions Palma, CB, LB, ST and Midfielder.

No mention of a GK, and at this point, I think it's clear the club don't view it as a priority position

 

LUIS PALMA is poised to join Celtic and spark a frantic final week of transfer activity.

The Hoops have been finalising a £3.5million deal for the Aris winger.

And SunSport believes boss Brendan Rodgers could make up to FIVE signings in the days ahead.

Several Celtic fringe men are also tipped to depart.

Honduran star Palma will sign a long-term contract and has been earmarked to fill the void left by Jota.

Aris boss Tolis Terzis confirmed the 23-year-old will join the Parkhead club and he could make his debut against Rangers on Sunday.

Rodgers is also targeting a central defender for the Old Firm game after an injury crisis in that area.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki are out for two months, with Stephen Welsh feared to be missing for four.

Southampton stopper Lyanco is one of many defenders offered to Celtic in the last few days, but he is now off to Qatar.

The Hoops gaffer is also chasing a left-back.

He had been linked with Kieran Tierney but the Arsenal ace has moved to Real Sociedad on loan.

Striking support for Kyogo is high on Rodgers’ list too.

SunSport revealed £4m-rated Mathias Kvistgaarden of Brondby was on the Hoops’ radar, while Celts have been keeping tabs on Manchester City’s Tommy Doyle — and a midfield addition has not been ruled out.

EPL clubs are set to make a host of players available for loan this week and Hoops chiefs are monitoring the situation.

And following their 0-0 with St Johnstone, the boss made it clear he needs players who will immediately improve the team.

The Hoops are unlikely to entertain any offers for regulars, with a Bologna bid for Matt O’Riley booted out last week.

Reo Hatate is also attracting interest but Rodgers remains keen to get him on a long-term deal, despite the first proposal being rejected.

But fringe men are likely to move on, with Sead Haksabanovic among them.

The Montenegrin has yet to start under Rodgers and came on as a second-half sub on Saturday.

He posted a cryptic message on social media, stating, “If they don’t see your value, maybe you’re not at the right place”.

The 24-year-old wants regular games and is likely to be allowed to leave for the right offer.

Celtic’s third-choice keeper Benji Siegrist could also depart, while Rodgers has admitted James McCarthy will be allowed to find a new club.

Ismaila Soro and Albian Ajeti, who are both still on Celtic’s books, could move on or even agree pay-offs.

Hoops kid Rocco Vata is set to leave before Friday’s deadline with Verona leading the chase.

 

We could sign 100 players if 1 of them is not a new goalkeeper it is sheer negligence at this point

 

Would be happy with that if they were all first team quality types ready to go straight in..

We do need a keeper....but as of tonight, I think beefing up our outfield 10 is more critical..

 

I reckon it would've been higher on the list had we no spent significant money on 2 centre backs and lost the first team pairing for 2 months..

 

Aye tbf to Hart, he's been excellent the last 2 league games, it's still criminal not to get some proper competition for him at least, but if we get another 5 outfield players in, it'll do until January.

Not ideal, but I'd rather deal with Hart's erratic kicking and fannying about at the back if it means I don't need to watch a left-hand side of Greg Taylor and Daizen Maeda ever again.

 

It's not an excuse we have had the whole window to deal with it. It's always the same we go in with a list of positions we need drag the * out then come the last few days we always make compromises. Coming in to this window for me GK LB CB and a winger (Jota replacement) was non negotiable all had to be first team ready with a RB CDM and ST further down the list as backup options. It's been the most Celtic of windows so far for something that promised so much

 

Aye it's where I'm at..

I'm no happy about him as our number 1 as he's clearly showing signs of regression and painfully slow.....but we could just about get by as long as our outfield has a an injection of quality sprinkled throughout....which it badly needs..

4 first team players at

Left back
Centre half
Centre mid
Palma

Can transform us and give the squad a lift..

I'm no including a striker if we sign one as Kyogo is the main one. Although it'll be nice to have one on the bench again

Be handy if the forward can play wide as well..

 

He was bang average against Killie and still managed to balls up a simple kick out which put Killie further in the ascendency. I'll grant you he was ok yesterday and made 1 really good save but going in to Europe with him in goals is a recipe for disaster even in some league games it will be as well

 

I can't disagree mate. There's no excuse for how late we've left this and no kicking on....and infact being weaker..

Right now though I'd just take the above with such little time left in the window..

 

Don't get me wrong, I'd much, much rather we go out and bring in a GK to replace Hart, I just don't think it'll happen.

The club obviously think he'll do until January, and want to prioritise outfield signings. With a new LB, LW and CM, it'll help massively with Domestic games. I don't agree with said stance, but if we get a proper, powerhouse midfielder in, it'll do until January.

 

I wouldn't we've seen it a million times before have a wee late flurry in the window and come out of it all positive but we still have a glaring weakness in the team. There is no reason we can't and haven't already filled the spots that need it the fact that we are all mostly in agreement over what positions need filled is so telling as well but we're all now ready to make compromises because it is so late in the day.

Another thing that bugs the life out me is when we sign for instance a winger who can also play up top and speak about him as if that covers 2 positions unless he's cutting himself in half we're still a man short and by the above logic 2 men short if they get injured.

I said the other day I wasn't going to go in 2 footed either on the club til the window shut as well

 

I feel all of that

I was slaughtering Hart a week ago and demanding a keeper as a matter of urgency. I just can't see it now..

 

We 100% need a new keeper but it will not win/lose us the league

 

Aye I agree but we also 100% need a keeper so why not just go and get one then the window isn't just the last week in August.

 

After watching that utter pish yesterday GK is definitely not a priority position. In fact with such upheaval at the back keeping the goalie might actually be sensible.

 

Because the club have royally * this transfer window and are now scrambling for players.

In their mind, they probably think they can hold off Keeper until January, so it's one less position for them to worry about.

As long as I never have to see Taylor, Ralston, Abada and Maeda all starting at the same time, I'll take Hart for another few months, It's a shambles, but it'll make do.

 

That's what I mean about making compromises though we came in to this window speaking about guys like Rieder who would genuinely excite most and also chat of spending 10-15 million on players but here we are in the last week yet again looking to make compromises because we've left it so late. Why will the board never learn their lesson

 

I don't know what's going on tbh.

We changed tactics and got players in early and it worked. We've now reverted back to scrambling around at the last minute to plug gaps that any Celtic supporter could've told you before the window open.

Yes, we've had surprise exits from Starfelt and Jota but we should've had replacements on a list in case they were to leave.

It's literally multiple people's job at the club to do this.

Scrambling around for some castoffs from Wolves?

Christ alive.