Celtic are linked with two transfer moves tonight, and nothing could better demonstrate the sheer contempt people at our club have for the supporters than the nature of these.
In the week we’ve been knocked out of the Champions League groups, as the club tries to get back on its feet, we are linked with two more players fitting into the broad outlines of the now colossally failed “strategy” … and these are even more bizarre and worrying than what’s come before.
We have, it seems, made a £500,000 move for young Ryan Christie of Inverness.
I like Christie.
He’s a fantastic young footballer but does anyone think he will strengthen the team in any way at the present time?
Of course not.
He’s clearly not an experienced player, which is what we desperately, clearly, obviously need … and what’s more, the people who have sanctioned this offer know his limitations full well because the word is that he’s going to be allowed to go back to the Highland club on loan.
Is it just me who wonders why in God’s name we’re bothering?
Why we’re giving Inverness money that we could be spending elsewhere?
This is baffling. Absolutely baffling.
We’ve just lost as much as £15 million in a week … so of course it makes sense to give away £500,000 more.
At the same time, we’re linked with a loan move for 21 year old Manchester United reserve defender Tyler Blackett.
(Yes, I had to look him up too.)
I’ll tell you, it’s bad enough that we’re locked into this diabolical cycle of signing young players, “developing them” and then selling them off … but the latest transfer policy of the club is even more scandalous and contemptible.
We now develop other clubs players for them.
So this, then, is the future.
Signing Scottish youth and developing English teams young players.
Do we have a hope in Hell of getting even one little bit better with this in place?
Do we stand even a ghost of a chance of making this squad into one that can compete?
Absolutely not.
We better hope – we better hope to God – that our domestic rivals don’t sufficiently get their act together over the next few years to seriously challenge us, because we are not remotely in a position to hold that challenge off whilst we’re also playing European football, in permanent flux, whilst we pursue the policies of a Hibs or a Dundee Utd.
Because that’s where this garbage is taking us.
Today’s developments are outrageous and the contempt they demonstrate for the supporters is breath-taking.
We are facing six very tough games, and I said in the earlier article that we need to sign at least one proven player, someone with European experience.
He doesn’t have to be elite, but he has to know his way around this level.
Instead this.
An offer than makes no sense whatsoever as it squanders resources without strengthening the playing squad … and an offer to help Manchester United blood one of their youngsters.
It benefits them without doing anything to help our own future prospects.
What a shambles this is.
And Ronny Deila is going right along with it.
If this was another club I’d be watching in rapt fascination as the manager placed his own head on the chopping block and readied himself for the axe.
Watching it happen at Celtic is infuriating and depressing, especially when this guy is better than that and we’re essentially helping ruin his reputation.
I have never been so scunnered with this club.
It really is becoming an embarrassment.
Correct. Players with no proven experience a very big problem. Wrong. Scottish Premier Clubs are getting their act together and will this season make the Scottish Premiership difficult to win.
Apologies all Celtic fans but the Board are the problem makers contributed to by a Manager with no proven experience.
Christie is a great prospect who would not displace one of our current midfield (yet). £500k is a punt nowadays, he is not being brought in to destroy Ajax and Fenerbahce 😉
Why did you not kick off about Denayer when he was brought in? Were we not just developing him for Man City yet this young Man Utd player seems to be questioned as a waste of time?
This is a poorly written piece that fails to recognise Scottish Footballs financial plight. Europe is not designed for teams with diddy budgets.
If you had to google Blackett I worry about your lack of football knowledge – could be a good signing with option to buy
The Christie move puzzles me greatly. And the point about experience is a good one well made. But Blackett is a better player than you make him sound. I didn’t have to look him up, although being in England, I do have the “pleasure” of watching more EPL football…
I totally agree. We will be in exact same position this time next year. No doubt. I think fans have had their fill of this policy of only buying ´potential´. When was the last time we bought an experienced player?? The balance is not there in the team. Developing players is great, and I have no issue. However, in order to assist with this development, surely the young players need an experienced head around them? Boyata has come in for a lot of criticism, but clearly Ronny sees something in him. The lad needs someone 27-30 along beside him. I´m not saying spend 8 million, I´m realistic, but buy someone who has been around at a decent level. And Blackett, I have no doubt is talented. But it´s not a move that benefits the club. He will be off next summer (Like Jason D), and then we will still be trying to find a partnership. While they are at it, obviously we lack a striker, but come on, the left back position has needed filled for seasons now.
Just think if someone had the wit to make the same sort of offer/deal to Hamilton for James McCarthy where we might be now.
I don’t think you read the blog mate it’s about developing Celtic and our players not a short tem fix and developing Man U players the board need a meeting and bring in some permanent staff ??????
Should Celtic have signed James McCarthy, even though he probably would not have strengthened our first 11 at the time?
The signing of Christie may not mean an immediate improvement of our starting team but that does not mean we should not sign him. As the biggest club in Scotland we should be making sure we hoover up the best young talent in Scotland, wheter developed by us or by another Scottish side. To not do this would be as stupid as it would be short sighted. Christie is a good player and has the potential to be very good. A half million risk on him is worth the risk.
As for persuing the policies of a Hibs or Dundee Utd, you do realise that in European terms we are a Hibs or a Dundee Utd? What else would you advocate that we do? We need to sign potential, because we cannot afford proven players. We need to sell on players when the big money offers come in because they only sign for us as a means of putting themselves in the shop window. We need to develop more players internally because in the long term they are the players likely to stay with us rather than come in with a view to moving on as soon as they get a better offer.
You have been extremely critical of Celtic, the board and the coaching team recently, but very little of your criticism has been constructive. What exactly do you think Celtic should be doing, how do you think they should fund it, and what would you do to mitigate the risks of your plans going wrong?
I do not think things are perfect and there are things I would do differently, but by and large I do not see any major changes in approach that we can make under the current circumstances. We are small fry on the European scene, we are a feeder club for the lower to mid level EPL teams, we are a well known name who offer a route to England with the chance of a few European games and medals in between, and sadly until there are major changes in the flow of money in football, we can’t do a great deal to change that.
We have not lost £15 million this week – we didn’t have it in the first place. We have, instead gained around £5 million. I think the doubters should lay off the team and manager. Yes, it was a poor defeat on Tuesday and that cannot be excused however, Ronnie should be given time to build his team further. We will come back stronger so long as we all stick together.
This board is going same way as the Kelly’s and whites treat fans with contempt our loyalty is to Celtic not the directors no use money in the bank no ambition no crowds no fans HH
We are all hurting but I think you need to just hold back a second. Denayer,19, Man City reserve? Didn’t know doesn’t make a diddy.
Totally agree not wise to treat us with contempt and believe we will stand by and take it kellys found out what fan power can do these supposedly supporters will go same way money in bank no use with no ambition no fans no crowds HH
Maybe you’d like us to spend money we don’t have and end up like rangers .
Think your still hurting m8 from Wed night which is understandable.
We have always bought or tried to buy the best players from other scottish clubs nothing new there. It’s good policy and keeps money in our game. A return to his club to play out the season equally as good as he wouldn’t get a game just now, but he is for the future maybe other clubs from better leagues were going to move for the lad and celtic has moved first. I think it’s good business.
The lad from united I can’t comment on never having seen the lad play,but with uncertainty over Virgil emergency measures need to be done if we can’t get a player in that position to sign a full contract.
I have seen in my time much worse Celtic sides than this team If we can clear our lines at corners we will be in a good position it was set plays that cost us nothing more nothing less.
A little bit of luck it could have been us there wasn’t much between us and things will get better.
Keep the faith.
That headline makes no sense. Also, it is no different from signing Denayer last year. Was that a bad move for us?
You say we clearly need experience, but it was our experienced players that let us down so badly v Maribor & Malmo !!
Janko who has little experience, was one of the very few to come out of the game with some credit.
I’d rather sign promising talent we know, that take some unknown from abroad..or worse spend £2M+ on another dud….Balde, Pukki, Derk etc.
You don’t know much if you had to look up Tyler Blackett. He played about 10 games for the Man U first time last season. Still, don’t let your own ignorance stop you ranting.
Charlie Christie is a very good young talent, and Tyler Blackett played under LVG last season and from what I’ve seen of both, they would be definite assets. Yes, unfortunately developing other EPL teams’ young players is a part of where we are right now and if memory serves weren’t many of our fans bemoaning the club for ignoring the Johnny Russels in favour of the Baldes and Banguras? Armstrong and GMS did not look out of place in the CL qualifiers and also showed up well last season against Inter Milan. Griffiths scored two for us at CP against Malmo, while Ciftci cannot honestly be assessed until he is over his suspension and has an uninterrupted run of games. I can see clearly what Deila is trying to do and I support him fully. It takes 3-4 years (or more) to get a team together that is capable of competing at CL level. I’ve got over Malmo because I support the team, I believe we have important EC games to look forward to and two serious contenders in Aberdeen and Hearts to give us a competitive edge domestically. I’m a Celtic supporter faithful through and through. I’ve seen the Lisbon Lions, I’ve seen Lou Macari’s team and I’d say right now that while we’re not close to the Lions, we’re certainly streets ahead of those dark days of 1993/94. Keep the faith. HH
James, speaking to United fans from down my way (Manchester) Tyler is highly thought of, one season ticket holder remarked “I would be gutted if he left”. You see, the understanding down Manchester way is that the deal is loan, option to buy. If true, this would fit with the model of buy low, sell high. One United fan mused that it could be a makeweight in the transfer of VVD.
Charlie Christie is an investment with potential but that said I think you are right in as much as there needs to be some quality coming in at the back and up front. Simple!!
its going nowhere
I take on board what you say, but is there not more contempt being shown to fans with the ongoing and never ending Virgil Van Dijk saga? It has played a part in our midweek disaster, and why can no one make a definitive statement. I am not talking here about the Sun and the Record which has had Virgil away to Southampton ever day that there is no other story. I want Celtic or Virgil himself to MAKE A STATEMENT.
Incidentally, Southampton, why? At least we are in the Europa League which though disappointing, is something.
Why Southampton David? Because they are in the EPL, thats why.
When we signed Shady I told my buddies ah, I bet Man. Utd. has first dibs on VVD now. Not at all surprised.
Usually agree with most of what you say, but regarding Christie I think your wrong…if a young player with terrific potential becomes available for £500.000 then it makes perfect sense to buy him…what would you rather we did ? Wait until he becomes a star at an English championship team and his price soared above what we are capable of paying…every player in history started off as just potentially good, or potentially great,,it would be madness to wait until they become the finished article,and lose out
I remember the experience of Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Thomas graveson retirement paydays for those guys would much rather support a team full of young Scottish guys if we eventually make a profit out of them great would you rather we were like Porto reasonably successful in Europe but 140 million in debt?