Thoughts on that Window

First impression is positive, but ultimately the success of the window will be determined by performances.

Losing O’Riley is a blow we knew was coming, but I’m happy with the other exits.


Out:
Tomoki Iwata
Mikey Johnston
Rocco Vata
Sead Haksabanovic
Yuki Kobayashi
James Mccarthy (Allegedly)
Daniel Kelly
Bosun Lawal
Benji Sigriest
Hyeon-gyu Oh
Gustaf Lagerbielke (L)
Hyeok-kyu Kwon (L)
Matt O'Riley

In:
Kasper Schmiechel
Viljami Sinisalo
Paulo Bernardo
Adam Idah
Alex Valle (L)
Auston Trusty
Arne Engels
Luke McCowan

 

In - best since Ange’s first season; took care of a few glaring holes in the XI and wider squad, but missed an opportunity to further strengthen the front three following Idah’s arrival: 8/10.

Out - best in honestly something like 20 years; 26 man senior squad (if you incl. Turley) and you can see them all getting game time, at least domestically. Puts us in a strong position for further recruitment in Jan and beyond: 10/10.

Overall: I’d have liked at least one winger in (pref. two), and Yang out on loan. A natural DM to replace Iwata and compete with Engels would’ve been nice, but that’s being picky. Looking at the kind of CL draw we’ve gotten, this squad should be competitive enough. This is the most optimistic I can remember feeling at the end of a transfer window since Lenny’s first (summer 2010): 9/10.

[EDIT: Based my score purely on outgoings/incomings by the end of the window. Doesn’t take into account seemingly shoddy/slow recruitment processes. However, even taking that into account, you have to factor in Rodgers’ encouraging comments acknowledging how poor the recruitment process has been, and that he intends to see it change. That gives me hope.]

 

The jury's out. We overpaid by leaving business late but I won't care if we can do something in Europe.

However, if our new signings can't break into the first team this season, then naturally it's been a costly disaster.

Time will tell.

 

Dont need to type much, this is exactly my thoughts.

I am however disappointed with the continued LB situation.

A year loan of a highly rated (potential wise) player from Barca is good business on the face of it, but again, its not good enough for me.

Ive complained in the player thread, and folk pointed out that even if we did sign a permanent player in there if he was good enough, hed be gone in two seasons anyway.

Thats not my thinking. We should've taken 10m out of the budget, and signed a LB who can at least, not get targeted as a weak link in Europe, and if and when he does leave, recycle the money into the position and bank the profit. Rinse and repeat.

Its a damning indictment of our set up that we've been unable to find a permanent solution to this position.
We're now, again , at the "wait and see" period, crossing fingers that we'll find someone NEXT YEAR, because we certainly won't be investing anything come winter.

A decent window, 6/10, but this LB situation is a massive black mark on what could, and shouldve been.

Edit: and no DM again... Ffs

 

While at a glacial pace, we had a belter. Part of it down to waiting for the O’Riley deal to come through before the Engels deal would but after that season we came into the window no viable first team keeper.

We replaced not just ability, with more ability IMO with Kasper after Joe Hart, we replaced his leadership something I thought would be impossible. We also secured what will hopefully be the first choice in years to come.

We’ve backed the manager by breaking our transfer record twice in one window… one for a guy the board rated much less than the fee paid out eventually as it was BR’s main target in Idah. Secured for much less than thought Bernardo, another great deal for me.

LB we covered, shelled out good money on a centre back, and we fended off interest for some extremely important players in Kyogo, CCV, Hatate. We shifted guys who we all viewed as deadwood like MJ for decent money, or even Lawal who we had hopes for but got decent money for.


Really, it’s a very * good window. Slow moving in parts and people get frustrated but really, we’re three games into the season, we’ve secured ourselves brilliant options for the coming season and not too late with no qualifiers.

Right now I’m at a 9/10. I’m seeing a lot of 6’s here, which is average ranking usually, this has been far from the average Celtic window.

Breaking our record fee twice, shows that. And really, think we’ve probably made a profit doing it.
I get why that part can frustrate people when we have cash there and moves shouldn’t need to be dependent on transfer fees coming in but all round, it’s brilliant

 

Just kicked the can down the road with the LB, at the end of this season both could be gone, at least we have another option for this season.
The keeper slot is upgraded and a bit of forward planning.
Our backline should be OK, will just have to wait and see with the new boy, but at 6M, be expecting an impact.
Happy enough with midfield options for now.
Its up top, I am concerned about.
No adequate backup for Kuhn and Maeda. I would happily sold both Yang and Palma and brought in a new guy.
We got shafted with Idah, trying to be smart but backfired. Should have told Norwich to FO at 5 or 6M but we had no plan B. Now we dont have a 3rd choice striker, and Kyogo carrying an injury and off form, striking position is a real concern

 

I agree with most.
Trusty needs to be good enough to slot in beside CCV as be an instant Scales upgrade. If not then we are a CCV injury away from being in trouble.
Yang is nowhere near it for me.
I think there is player in Plama but he needs to make better decisions in his game i.e. stop being a greedy wasteful *.
Idah, yes we paid over the odds - £6m or walk away and get Miovski. He now needs to perform and so far he hasn't.
Kyogo - movement aside he hasn't been firing either and we all know he is a clattering away from being out for months so a striker (even one for the future) in my opinion was essential.
I'm hoping we have a solid lead by the January window and we get more quality business done to help us secure the title again (and hopefully treble)

 

Impossible to tell until we see what kind of impact each player makes on the pitch. That being said, in terms of getting numbers in and out we did well. I'd still have liked to have brought in another winger though.

 

Hopefully time will show it was a successful window, sorry to see MOR go as the guy is brilliant but it was going to happen, delighted to see a lot of the deadwood moved out, it was long overdue and hopefully the new acquisitions will become first team regulars and improve the team. The only dissapointing thing is we left it very late again, do your business early please.

 

People seem to forget rightback is a bit of a vulnerability....Johnston is injured....then Ralston steps up? Honest pros don't go far in CL.

We still seem one injury away in some positions from minor disaster, at least for Europe anyway.

 

On the flip side of that though, how are we keeping 3 players for each position happy?
Having 2 players for each spot is the most manageable and tbh Ralston is as good a backup as we could expect to get because his attitude is fantastic. We aren't getting an Ali Johnston level player to warm the bench every week.

 

Good that we got rid of a lot of dross

 

All the areas we realistically could improve on, were improved. But selling Iwata means Rodgers doesn't want a CDM in the squad. That's a tactical oversight more than just a transfer one, though. 4 out of 5 is my rating to the window.

 

Ask me in November.

 

A lot of positives but overall I'm not sure it's the unbelievable/sign of things to come/Celtic changing their way of doing things transfer window we thought we might get a few months ago.

Schmeichel definitely an improvement on Hart and may end up being the most important signing of the lot (even though most likely it'll be Engels) Sinasalo was an astute piece of business and the club must be lauded for that. However that gave a false impression for the rest of the window. Haggling for Bernardo worked but I just don't see it with Idah. Yes he was important last year but we paid ridiculous money for him and surely could have got someone better for less in one of the smaller leagues if we had a proper scouting dept.

It's also totally unacceptable to leave the last three signings until the last hours of the transfer window - those players should have been bedded in weeks ago and ready to start for the game Sunday. Don't know much about McCowan but a 26 year old who has never represented Scotland at any level???

So overall a mixed bag. We did very well to get good fees for the * we got rid of but something tells me the transfer window in January might be a dinger in terms of incomings......

 

My main concern is O’Riley brought a lot of attacking threat that we’ve maybe not replaced. That would be my main focus in the next window.

I think we also need a bit more depth but we’re moving in the right direction.

 

Not striker

 

This!!! Nicely put. A winger would have made it a solid 8. Can.adfress this in January

 

I liked Iwata. I think that we were fleeced for Idah too and I hope he proves me wrong. As folk say Kyogo is vulnerable but I'm content (for now) with the fact that everyone else is trying to get on the score sheet and doing well with that ...Khun, Maeda, Reo et, al.

What we have are players with a winning mentality and who're full of confidence in their ability. Add to that a sense of belonging/family/cameraderie if you will. That feeling will permeate down to the new players we have brought in. You will find it hard to beat an unstoppable unit like that. I think that a lot of players who have moved on will miss all of that.

I'm happy so far that there have been some positive changes in the way we do business. Yes it has taken too long to up the ante a little but Rome wasn't built in a day. I believe BR is shaking things up a bit and it will take another window or two to really see the benefits.

 

It's an odd one

Giving rid of so many is good news. We needed a proper clear out. Sad ORiley is gone but was always going to happen.

Feels like the board have finally heard the message from Rodgers and have started to spend properly. I'm unsure how much of that late flurry of activity came from having a real plan with proper due diligence, etc. And how much was sheer panic having failed to do anything over the last few months. I've got good vibes about most of the new signings. Not 100% on Trusty.

Overall 7/10 . Certainly happier now than I was last week