The shape of next season’s title race has finally assumed its form at last. As I said in a previous piece—the one about how the Phoney War is over—we’re now fully aware of what we’re up against. That picture is all the clearer now that we know who the next manager across the city is going to be.
So the battle lines are drawn.
And since the Ibrox board confirmed yesterday what we all suspected—that the so-called £20 million transfer kitty is a figment of the media’s imagination—we now have a pretty good idea of the shape their challenge is going to take. That squad needs a significant rebuild, and unless they can punt a number of key players, there is simply no way they’re going to be able to do it right.
The contours of the battle are coming into focus. This is the right time for us to flex our muscles, and I was glad to see yesterday end with so many transfer stories about us. I hope we’re moving fast behind the scenes.
I hope we can get some deals done early. There are persistent rumours about Kuhn being wanted by other clubs; I think it’s more than possible that we’ll lose a key player. That’s fine—as long as we have a plan in place for a replacement.
We always knew there would come a point where the Ibrox club would start putting pressure on itself. We didn’t know it would come this soon, and we certainly didn’t know it would come this dramatically, with an appointment their own fans are so dead set against. The thing is, we can’t afford to let this moment pass us by.
This is the time to capitalise.
This is the time to make hay while the sun is shining. A couple of smart signings and we could plunge them into chaos. Because whatever we do, their fans are going to feel that their new board has to match it.
And having underwhelmed with the managerial appointment, they simply can’t afford to underwhelm in the transfer window.
If we come out strong, the pressure we’ll put on them to follow suit will be enormous. The directors themselves might not care, but that in itself is a major issue for the club if things start to spiral into a toxic mess.
We’ve always known that the biggest threat to our club is our own club. How many times have we discussed that? How often have we talked about it here and elsewhere? The biggest threat to Celtic is Celtic. And if we allow ourselves to get complacent here, then we’re inviting trouble. If not domestically, then certainly when it comes to making the splash in Europe that we could and should be aiming for.
As I said, as confident as I am about the direction of our club and the future that lies ahead, no matter what’s going on across the city, we have to act like the threat is real. And the psychological impact of Celtic acting like it’s real will be multiplied if, as some of us suspect, those over there are in it purely for the money.
So if we respond the right way, I think we’ll be in excellent shape.
We now know the complete makeup of the upper echelon across town. We know who their board members are. We know the senior executives. We even know who the new director of football is, along with the head of signings and scouting. And finally—finally—we know who their manager is.
It took them long enough, especially considering that the main candidate, the man they’ve hired, has been available for months.
So at last all the artifice has been cast aside. At last, all talk of bling has been shown up as hollow. We know now who we’re up against at every level of their club. We can even hazard a pretty good guess at the level their transfer budget will be set at.
Not as high as their friends were hoping. Not as high as the media speculated. Unless, of course, they can secure some big sale.
Which so far, they haven’t managed to do.
So we have to respond. It is finally time to warm up and get busy.
We’ve seen what they’ve got to oppose us with—now let’s remind them what they’re up against, and how much stronger we can be if we put forth our full strength. So often, this club squanders these kinds of opportunities. But there’s more at stake here than domestic success.
That Champions League bounty is there for the taking. And if we prepare properly for the threats at home and abroad, not only will we claim that prize—we’ll take all the others as well.
Well said James, and I’m sure we all agree with your conclusions. In fact it is only common sense to apply pressure to a club that is already in a fragile state. We do indeed then have to act quickly and decisively in the transfer window to add to their woes. I just hope that CFC can see that same logic and act accordingly,….. but I won’t hold my breath.
If the reports are true Celtics asking price for Maeda is 21-25m.
This is either to scare clubs off or as I think they would be happy to bank this amount for a 27 year old player with a couple of years of his contract left.
I expect Rangers to sign a number of free transfers but with high wages.
£21-25 million for Daizen Terry…
Wish ya were ma car salesmen instead of the crooks that I’ve dealt with !!!
And… Is that Queens Park Rangers, or Cove Rangers, or Berwick Rangers, or Brora Rangers, or Carrick Rangers or Stafford Rangers that you expect to sign a number of free transfers but with high wages…
Cos it certainly won’t be a team from Glasgow that used to be known as that name for sure as they’re dead as dead can be…
I’d love to have a good few lagers and whisky’s with ma late Daddy but I cannot as he’s in the same boat as ‘Rangers’ of Glasgow (died c.2012) !
You just never know with Celtic. We could easily mess this up. I remain cautiously optimistic.
You are right ! .
Now everyone knows that the so called mega takeover is indeed a wee fakeover.
The result is that in the coming campaign TRFC are not capable of doing anything seriously transformational other than as previously discussed ..in other words if Russell Martin actually turns out to be an alchemist and turns 5 or 6 of their underachievers into quality players and as a result they get into the CL group stages , thus get access to more serious money and start to motor with even more signings .
CFC must work on the assumption that will be the case . Lets hope the planned summer actions have already been put in motion and are executed regardless of how the other crowd perform ..
Every transfer window we have the same conversations, nothing changes. I don’t think our board look at Therangers and they don’t plan for CL qualifiers. They have a business model they won’t shift from no matter what is going on at other clubs or who we may face in the qualifiers. They will wait until a few players are sold with at least one big sale before they will make any meaningful signing. They are very like the manager, one way of working, no plan B
Martin has said, sorry “ teased “, that they may have one or two in before the UCL Qualifiers. With that recently significantly denuded squad they will need much more imho.
That is worrying for us as we may see this limited movement as no threat and shut the purse. Have to wonder how that also may impact BR in staying as he might see an even weaker Ibrox team as no longer a challenge for him.
Their player trading strategy is off to a bad start with £2m signing Propper likely to go back to Holland for half that. Think they missed the point that is you who should make a profit lol.
The media are all adamant there will be big business being done in this window. They link them with really young guys in the £5m bracket but add, these kids are also attracting big clubs, so guess what their chances of getting them are.
I suspect it will be status quo for them with probs lots of low cost signings.
I may be proved wrong, but I can’t see how Martin can negotiate a path into the CL whilst implementing a completely new style of play. Starting with Butland, they have a few regular starters who won’t be comfortable with building from the back and possession football.
I’ve enjoyed the comedy show over there but what they do in transfer window should have no bearing on us. We should always be trying to build the best team we can. Even before we sell anyone there’s areas in the squad that need addressed, Kyogo’s replacement, whether that’s a winger or a striker and a loan deal as cover for Jota. A central midfielder, how long is Hatate out for? A CB possibly and our standard perpetual LB issue.
I’d like to see us bring in a solid left sided CB to play alongside CCV, however, its not unreasonable that Tierney could play there. This would keep an option to still have Taylor play in that inverted RB role. This would protect Tierney a little bit from those lung bursting runs up the left and also have him as an option for the thoughrr European games where he might be better suited to RB than Taylor.
I always wonder why some players are singled out for criticism and some not. Taylor and Scales get criticised constantly but CCV is seen as this irreplaceable rock and we look for a left sided CB to play alongside him. I personally don’t rate CCV that highly. He is too small height wise for a CB, doesn’t win enough headers in his own box and the oppositions box and that is a very big part of being a good CB. How long have Celtic been woeful at defending crosses and set plays. Do we blame the other CB all the time for that. CCV has been there a while now and the problem is still very much there. Nawrocki looks great, very aggressive and does not get a chance. Rodgers seems to have favourites.
I dont think we’ll do any transfer business until our CL qualifier is settled. I hope I’m wrong, Anges’ first year is the only year I remember the board being pro active in signing players. Well revert to type. God knows what it will look like if we don’t qualify.