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

How are we getting criticised for writing off the new signings when the manager himself has hinted, as clearly as he can, we need better?

Nobodies saying these guys are all definitely *. Of course some might turn out excellent. We’re not stupid.

But this * attitude about ‘surprise superstars’ that everyone loves has become very old.

This was the summer for buying in a few highly regarded players that our competitors want, not just hidden gems we hope will come good.

 

People in here writing off signings and Rodgers saying we need a bit more quality is not the same thing at all.

 

Looking forwards to Celtics transfer window finally opening.

 

I hadn't heard of any of these 3 before they signed mate and they made a big impact. Why can 3 of our new signings not do the same?

 

People aren’t writing off signings though are they?

They’re more or less saying what Rodgers is saying, that we have too many projects and should’ve focused on quality.

But it’s not positive enough so we’re hearing the, “Don’t write them off they could be a Jota” patter.

 

Mate, I've never heard of any of our 8 or 9 signings before, but does that mean they're going to be 'surprise superstars'?

All I can do is trust our recruitment team, who have no a bad record of late, and see how the new boys play. I'm quite impressed with the ones I've seen so far, with the exception being kwon.

I don't see the point of going aff ma nut criticising the recruitment, Rodgers, board, lawwell etc until we see how things go.

 

This is so grim. The only place it can be argued we are stronger is CB. Dreadful mismanagement.

 

I hadn’t heard of them either. You are missing my point though. All three of those players went straight into the starting eleven, so Ange clearly felt they would improve the team, and they did. Not one of our midfielders/wingers started in the opening two games of the season. It’s only really been because of injuries they have had a sniff since. Rodgers himself said he needed players that were first team ready weeks ago. That’s not writing the signings off. The left back and goalkeeping positions are a massive concern at this stage also, and I know we aren’t bringing a keeper in.

 

We know we've needed a new LB for such a long time, it's absolutely criminal that it's the final day of the window and we haven't managed to source a solid, first team ready signing for the position.

It would seem incredibly likely that if we do manage to sign a LB today it'll either be a free agent or a loan deal.

In terms of available free agents who realistically could be of use and be brought in - the pickings are slim;

Niko Gießelmann (31) - Played for Union Berlin from 2020 until last season. Made 26 appearances for them last season and is now without a club - really attacking full back, could be of use.

Kostas Stafylidis (29) - Played for Bochum the past few years, a regular starter for them, now a free agent. Good tackler, really good set-pieces too.

In terms of a potential, realistic loan option;

Álvaro Fernández [20] (Man Utd) - With Man Utd loaning Reguilón, they've made it clear that Fernández is going out on loan, few teams are linked. Great prospect, very attacking.

We're really making it almost impossible to find anyone worth signing, this late in the day.

 

I agree with the new signings, we may look back on this window and think wow, we added some amount of quality..

Although, it's hard to trust the recruitment process when we've not strengthened at LB and GK, never mind a DM that's been needed for years..

It's simply not good enough and I'm probably as positive as it comes.

 

For me the main difference is the position we are in versus then. Jota turned into our, arguably, our best player.

Lost him.

but from the timing since then: we playef champions lg last season, this season without qualifiers. Next champion will get into the champ lg again without the lottery. We are financially healthy. Think a LB and one game changer should have been done. And that was regardless Jota leaving. We are in a position of strength that we can take a risk or two.

 

I don't get this attitude at all. It's not about whether you've heard of a player or not. I can't remember the last signing Celtic made that I'd heard of. No one is cutting about asking for only players we've heard of. It's total * gaslighting to say that.

I see Maeda / Hatate / Kyogo getting thrown about as if they were total gamble projects. As I've said above, this is a massive misrepresentation. They were all brought in on the direct instruction of the manager as soon as he possibly could get them. He had managed one and had close contact with the other two. They weren't projects, prospects or gambles. They were the exact opposite.

Whether people want to accept it or not, Rodgers himself has gently suggested he isn't too happy with how recruitment has went. It's no secret he was unhappy the first time round and he's already started to suggest he wants better quality this time round and he hasn't got it. That's his opinion, as clear as we can make out.

 

For me, largebielke is a starter, potentially along with yang. Palma might be fired in on Sunday. The point I'm making is just let's see how it goes. Far too much negativity on here I think.

Totally agree about a left back, priority the now, hopefully they get one in.

 

You could have argued Eddy was our best player when Ange came in and we replaced him with a guy from the J league.

 

I agree left back should have been a priority but our recruitment in general has been good recently as in the players signed have turned out to be decent. Maybe I'm just too optimistic lol.

 

Oh defo. But we were for me in a totally different position. We still had qualifiers etc. I am not asking for harakiri on the transfer market. But we always needed proven quality next to the unearthed gems. And we are in a position to have done that. But I get what you are saying. Just felt this one could have been so much more. Specially since we would be certain for another champ lg if we win the league.

 

I agree that Ange knew exactly why he wanted the Japanese bhoys and had specific plans for them.

But Rodgers, contrary to the last paragraph of your post, agreed to work with what the club provide him with and develop said players. He said this some time before the StJ game.

 

This is roughly my take on things, I'll be really annoyed if we don't sign a LB today, but have some faith our other signings will mostly come good, some folk on here talking like we've literally signed nobody this window and it's just daft.

 

The point I'm making mate is how can you write all these signings off as projects when you've never heard of them. No slagging you off personally cause I've got no idea either.

 

That's just a complete Myth. Our signings last year were very hit and miss.

CCV/Jota don't really count, considering you had loaned them in the year before and knew exactly what you were getting but even including them

CCV, Jota, Maeda, Johnstone, OH, Mooy would be considered successful right now and I'm being generous giving you OH/Maeda too.

Bernabei, Hacksabanovic, Abdilgaard, Siegrist, Kobayashi, Jenz, Iwata... absolutely not successful. For what it's worth, I did like Jenz and I think Iwata has more to offer in his proper position but they can't be considered a success right now.