SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

Welcome to the 100th Day. An anniversary without fanfares,something that few of us would have thought imaginable. Mind,I wouldn’t have thought I could go 104 days without a pint,or 116 without seeing Celtic. It’s been the strangest of years-and that will also apply to The Transfer Window.

One of my biggest bugbears with Peter Lawwell over the years has been his approach to transfer windows. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think he is the self-appointed Director of Football,and as the man who negotiates the transfer fees and salaries that the club will pay,it effectively means that,even if he doesn’t pick the team,he decides who is available to choose from.

Another bugbear of course has been his mantra that every penny that comes in is reinvested in the club. He had to change it to that of course when it became obvious to even his most fervent admirers that his previous oft-repeated statement that every penny that came in was spent on the team was a load of cobblers. As is his latest one-though,since it looks likely that the coronavirus crisis will eat through our carefully hoarded reserves,he will soon have a Get Out of Jail card for that one.

So,transfer windows. Peter decides who goes out,and who comes in. And yesterday we made our first signing of the season. Sort of. As Mo Elyounoussi was lent to us for another season by Southampton. Hopefully so too will Fraser Forster,because a top keeper is a priority. I’ve also seen Joe Hart and Artur Boruc mentioned. Hmmm,naw. I’d rather have Vaclav Hladky from St Mirren. Frankly if we can’t get Fraser,we should have kept Craig Gordon!

Of course,it’s not just Craig Gordon that we have lost in this window. Out too have gone Kouassi,Jonny Hayes and one or two others. I’ve had my say on them,I’d have kept them as cover at least. I think Hayes was probably our most-effective left-back. And I am sure that there’s a player in Kouassi,based on the minimal time I saw him-a most unlucky player in The Hoops. Further,there is the constant speculation around Ajer,Ollie and I Wanna. And that not good news when Peter may be looking at some family silver to help balance the books. As there don’t appear to be any moves to bring anyone in for those positions,we might just get away with it.

But this is the strangest of close-seasons,and for that reason-unless he really goes into full firesale mode!-I’ll probably be cutting PL some slack at the end of it. Tonight should have seen us playing our first qualifier of the European season. That won’t be happening till towards the end of next month! Our first League match of the season is four weeks on Saturday,and we don’t have a clue who will be in the squad for it. And yet,it could be argued that there’s no rush-but then,that argument is always used. Year after year,as we sit on our hands and finally get frantic on the last day.

Well,the last day of the transfer window this year isn’t until October 5th! Yep,97 days from now!!!

If you thought this 100 days of lockdown had been a drag,you ain’t seen nothing yet. There are now 97 days of the opaque transfer window to look forward to. And may The Lord have mercy on our mental health.

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Above article by BMCUWP. If you can take our minds off the next 97 days of nothingness,mail us an article to publish.

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