When A Transfer Window Shuts, A Window For Thought Opens
On Tuesday night, the Summer Transfer window slammed shut until January, and most years, following the closure of the summer window is an international break, which gives club managers across Europe the chance to take stock and assess how they’ve done during the summer months in assembling teams to challenge for the domestic honours, as well as an assault on European football.
Celtic have seen 11 new players enter those famous revolving doors at Celtic Park, which effectively means a new team. However was the right business done at Celtic Park? Was everyone of those 11 new signings essential? Could the money have been spent elsewhere? For a better cause? Have a wee think to yourselves whilst i give my opinion, lets see if you agree. I’ll start with the list of players who have became Celtic players this summer:
Charlie Mulgrew (Left Back)
Joe Ledley (Midfielder)
Daryl Murphy (Striker)
Gary Hooper (Striker)
Efrain Juarez (Midfielder)
Cha Du Ri (Right Back)
Daniel Majstorovic (Center Half)
Emiliano Izaguire (Left Back)
Frazer Forster (Goalkeeper)
Anthony Stokes (Striker)
Biram Kayal (Midfielder)
Mulgrew and Murphy aside, in my opinion those players were signed to make an automatic mark on the club and were brought in as first team regulars. However, is Frazer Forster better than Artur Boruc? Is Cha Du Ri better than Andy Hinkel? I believe this not to be the case, however i also do not see it as being a problem to our title chances.
Juarez and Kayal look to be very assured players on the ball, as does Joe Ledley. Scott Brown looks to have recognized the threat posed to his position and has been excellent in all 3 SPL games we’ve played in this year. Izaguire looks like what we’ve been needing for years, a Left Back who can take the ball off a winger. Majstorovic, an imposing center half, looks like a defender who is capable of both scaring the life out of center fowards, and winning the ball cleanly in the challenge, he is also capable of combining both into one action. Gary hooper, before injury ruled him out until October, showed that he might just be the penalty box striker we’ve been looking for, Forster had hee haw to do against Motherwell but did nothing in a secure fashion, and even managed to knock Glenn Loovens out. Last but not least, Anthony Stokes, our last minute Signing, could just be the man to partner Hooper and use his very good link up play to ensure Celtic blow opponents away.
Leaving Celtic, was the very capable Marc Antoine Fortune, im yet to be convinced that a better player is replacing big Marco. There was something not right with Fortune, one week he would show flashes of undeniable brilliance, whether be a late winner against Motherwell, which John Ruddy is still trying to save, or a magnificent equaliser at St.Johnstone. However, there were times when Fortune looked ordinary, arguably this was the case for 9/10 times. As a huge admirer of Marc Antoine Fortune, i was very sorry to see him go, i saw a different player to others, i saw a player who could hold the ball up, bring others into play, and generally provide a decent outlet when we were on the back foot, Rapid Vienna away anyone? I know i am in the minority here but i dont believe selling Fortune was for the best. Moving on to the other leavers this summer, ex captain Steven McManus left for Boro, to continue his stay with Gordon Strachan’s SPL All Stars after an initial 5 months loan deal. Morten Rasmussen and Darren O’Dea left on loan. Not unexpected but still saddening was the departure of Artur Boruc, our holy goalie left Celtic after a glorious 5 years and will provide stiff compeition for Forientina’s current number 1 Seb Frey, and probably become number one there himself very shortly. Artur’s exit leaves us short in that position that we were so secure in for 5 Years, for the first time since Artur’s arrivial, we were needing a new Number 1, not a back up goalkeeper, eg. Mark Brown, Zaluska, Cervi, Marshall. I’d like to wish all those who left Celtic this summer, whether on loan or on a permanent deal, all the very best for the future, and also thank them for their efforts whilst wearing the green and white hoops. I’d like to think all Celtic fans share those sentiments.
After 7 games this season, Neil Lennon’s Celtic have gone through 3 league matches without conceeding a goal, Conceeded 8 goals in europe and only scoring 3, went out of all european competitions, stuff that usually provokes the cracked crest routine in all of the major tabloids. However things are looking up for Neil Lennon and Co. We’re going well in the league, and no matter what unrealistic dreams of winning the Champions League you may have, the league is our bread and butter, and if that is in the bag come May, then a fine season we will have enjoyed, no matter which 3rd divison side knocks us out of the Scottish Cup…
Finally this week, the internationals loom, and tonight Scotland will play Lithuania in Kaunas tonight with only one Celtic player in their squad, the Celtic captain, Scott Brown. Brown will probably be used in a more holding role with Darren Fletcher beside him, a player i believe Scott Brown carries at times when playing for Scotland, not suggesting for a second Scott Brown is Man Utd class, but it is evident Brown is a better player for Scotland than Fletcher is. Anyways, a point that i cannot get through to my head is the ommision of Shaun Maloney, a player who has been nothing short of brilliant in the early season fixtures, Scoring 2 TV MOTM awards in as many games. Players like Charlie Adam, Steven Naismith, Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd (who both turned their back on their country not so long ago) get into the squad before Maloney, who in my opinion has never been given a fair crack of the Scotland whip, nothing that bothers me however, means he will stay injury free for selection at Celtic, something which isn’t normally said about Maloney. Also, in 2009 there was a media outrage when John Fleck wasn’t selected for Scotland after 2 15-minute cameo appearences for Rangers. I have yet to see anyone call for James Forrest’s introduction to full international football.
To end my first blog i’d like to wish all the Celts away on international duty this week the very best of luck and hopefully they all return next Thursday morning fit and healthy for the continuation of the SPL season
Thanks for your time, Hail Hail
Brucehillbhoy