SENTINELCELTS

Following on our train of positive speculation to prove we aren’t a doomsday site at all, I decided to look at the idea of,,, “a blank canvas”.
Hopefully you know what I mean by that . We are down, or at least could be down to ‘skeleton’ staffing levels, needing major recruitment.
‘Major recruitment’ though has many different meanings and as we well know after this regimes shenanigans money spent does not equate to money spent wisely.
 
 
With the predicted or projected departures the footballing operation has needs in every department, goals, rear, middle, front, but most importantly in the dugout and the subsequent structure to support that privileged fellow.
We find ourselves in the incredible position of an entire team departing this summer, like it or not.
On the books staff will be at their lowest level I’ve ever known, there will be fresh blood at the very helm of the operation with not much financial baggage at all from the previous given the 19 million in the bank plus the ten million Frimpong money to come.
Then you’ve Odsonne, Kris, Calmac or Christie or both to sell plus the keeper who wants to return home ala El Hamed.
Funds will be raised, not far off the expected level I believe..
Kris,,15m
Odsonne,,25m
Calmac,,12m
Ryan,,7m
Add on the loan savings and the departed managers wage, and we essentially have,,,
A blank canvas to work with.
 
 

I typed ‘a blank canvas’ into Google and within a small swipe were three negative headlines.
‘The scary thing about a blank canvas’
‘Conquering the fear of a blank canvas’
‘Grief is like facing a blank canvas’
Please forgive me wise and mighty Google but there are actually some, maybe a lot, that feel a huge tingle of excitement looking at a blank canvas.
 
 
Those who take the footballing reigns at Glasgow Celtic right now literally can do what they want.
All options are on the table.
Does this character quickly win the league back by buying available talent he knows at a cutdown price?
How about the older gentleman who likes bringing through youth ala Hodgson?
Mostly youth with an experienced spine ala The Busby Babes?
Or just field the best of ‘the islands’ for now while we sort things out?
 
 
The average age of the squad is always important. Given that we shall be chasing the Champions next year, logic tells us the more experienced the team the better the chances of regaining that league trophy, youth and younger players being notoriously inconsistent. Experienced players also tend to stand up for themselves physically, again raising the odds of success. Experience does cost but with the widespread availability of Bosmans in the age group we are talking about (26-33) we needn’t necessarily pay a transfer fee, but offer those freebies good wages and maybe a slice of their transfer to sign up for the cause and you will get some takers I believe.
Filling the team with experienced Bosmans would be ‘todays’ managers choice, he who wants and needs results here and now and isn’t building for the future, he wants to look great at his stepping stone club. It wouldn’t be my choice but like I say, it ups the odds of taking our title again and makes sense for a club with little cash for transfer fees.
 
 
We do have a bit of cash though, at least we should have when the dust settles. We can reasonably expect 50 million or so given sales and savings, but how much of that should be forked out isn’t easy to state given there’s many who won’t buy a VST again. But there’s surely a chunk to spend.
Spending used to be a lot easier and simpler though.
 
 
Buying foreign may look the natural path, but times have changed with the Virus. We now have young men feeling stuck, can’t go and unwind where they call home, can’t hug their mammies anymore etc. It’s just not the best time to buy foreigners, another year or two should see things calm down on that front but avoiding them short term makes sense.
Given this information, hoovering up the best local talent looks the safer bet. Given that we could do with every penny for this huge rebuild, expect safer bets to get the nod.
 
 
That’s not to say it’s the wrong path, no Siree. Alba produces fantastic players repeatedly, I’m constantly impressed and sometimes feel it’s an underappreciated fact, perhaps even an assumption at this stage. Joining the biggest most successful club in the land then improving under the higher standards isn’t a given for the natives I expect we will target, but it certainly does help mitigate some of the risk factors every transfer comes with.
But short term I certainly envision a home based majority.
 
 
Some won’t like that, some will love it. I’m in the latter camp, and I think this will play a role in determining who fills the vacant positions. Two Italians at the helm next sounds great, sexy and a new market to exploit, but the timing would be all wrong all around.
Unfortunately. People are sticking with what they know, and to be honest Italians don’t tend to settle anywhere outside of home, unsurprisingly given all Italy offers.
 
 
Homebased need not mean boring. A footballing purist who brings out the best in his players ala Eddie Howe would get my juices flowing and stop the best kids saying Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
Witnessing a proper coach transforming players is not only an education but a privilege, not to mention a great income stream. It alone can be worth a season ticket, witnessing ‘that’ player live in the flesh.
 
 
The stage is set, brains need brought in as the path needs plotted.
A new era begins this summer, and sitting here now I genuinely do not know where we shall end up, how the journey will go, who will drive the bus and who will direct him.
Anything could happen.
Glasgow Celtic is one currently one huge blank canvas, let’s enjoy watching it be filled.
 
 
By Mahe.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com